Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was, of course, an English physicist, mathematician, whose
Principia
(published in 1687) founded classical mechanics, and described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion; his other major work is the
Opticks
. He was also, however, a fervent believer in God, and devoted considerable time in his later years to studying the Bible and biblical prophecy. [NOTE: page numbers refer to a 323-page hardcover reprint edition.]
He states about Daniel chapter 7-8, "By the conversion of the ten kingdoms to the Roman religion, the Pope not only enlarged his spiritual dominion, but did not yet rise up as a horn of the Beast. It was his temporal dominion which made him one of the horns: and this dominion he acquired in the latter half of the eighth century, by subduing three of the former horns as above. And now being arrived at a temporal dominion, and a power above all human judicature, he reigned `with a look more stout than his fellows' [7:20, 25], and `times and laws were' henceforward `given into his hands for a time times and half a time,' or three times and an half; that is, for 1260 solar years, reckoning a time for a Calendar year of 360 days, and a day for a solar year." (Pg. 113-114)
Of Daniel 9:24-27, he observes, "Here, by putting a week for seven years, are reckoned 490 years from the time that the dispersed Jews should be re-incorporated into `a people and a holy city until the resurrection of Christ; whereby `transgression should be finished, and sins ended, iniquity be expiated, and everlasting righteousness brought in, and this Vision be accomplished, and the Prophet consummated, that prophet whom the Jews expected; and whereby the `most Holy' should be `anointed,' he who is therefore in the next words called the `Anointed,' that is , the Messiah, or the Christ." (Pg. 130)
He continues, "The Israelites in the days of the ancient Prophets, when the ten Tribes were led into captivity, expected a double return; and that at the first the Jews should build a new Temple inferior to Solomon's, until the time of that age should be fulfilled; and afterwards they should return from all places of their captivity, and build Jerusalem and the Temple gloriously... Now while such a return from captivity was the expectation of Israel, even before the times of Daniel, I know not why Daniel should omit it in his prophecy. This part of the Prophecy being therefore not yet fulfilled, I shall not attempt a particular interpretation of it, but content myself with observing, that as the seventy and sixty-two weeks were Jewish weeks, ending with Sabbatical years; so the seven weeks are the compass of a Jubilee, and of the highest nature for which a Jubilee can be kept: and since `the commandment to return and to build' Jerusalem, precedes the Messiah the Prince 49 years; it may perhaps come forth not from the Jews themselves, but from some other kingdom friendly to them, and precede their return from captivity, and give occasion to it..." (Pg. 133-134)
He explains, "Whether Daniel used the Chaldaic or Jewish year, is not very material; the difference being but six hours in a year, and 4 months in 480 years. But I take his years to be Jewish: first, because Daniel was a Jew, and the Jews even by the names of the Chaldean months understood the months of their own year: Secondly, because the prophecy is grounded on Jeremiah's concerning the 70 years captivity, and therefore must be understood of the same sort of years with the seventy; and those are JEWISH, since that prophecy was given in Judea before the captivity: and lastly, because Daniel reckons by weeks of years, which is a way of reckoning peculiar to the Jewish years... For as their years ran by sevens, and the last day of every seven was a Sabbath; so their years ran by sevens, and the last day of every seven was a sabbatical year and seven such weeks of years made a Jubilee." (Pg. 138)
He suggests of Daniel 12, "'Tis therefore a part of this Prophecy, that it should not be understood before the last age of the world; and therefore it makes for the credit of the Prophecy, that it is not yet understood. But if the last age, the age of opening these things, be now approaching, as by the great successes of late Interpreters it seems to be, we have more encouragement than ever to look into these things. If the general preaching of the Gospel be approaching, it is to us and our posterity that those words mainly belong: `In the time of the end the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those things which were written therein.'" (Pg. 250-251)
Newton is widely perceived as having "wasted" his later years by studying biblical prophecies; Christians may judge for themselves whether this perception is true, or not.
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Interesting and educational
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Isaac Newton puts a calendar in thats credible.
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