Isaac Newton’s formula for when the world will end puts the date eerily close

The definitive date for the apocalypse was scribbled on a scrap of paper

The world-renowned boffin, who is regarded in history as the greatest English mathematician of all time owing to his work in transforming the human understanding of the world we live in, put his analytical mind to work to pinpoint when the end of the world will occur.

Using equations and the Book of Daniel - the oldest testament in Christianity - the maths whizz traced humanity back to its first steps before concluding when it would come to an eventual demise.

He produced seven points which, at the time at least, simplified his rationale.

By his logic:

1. The 2300 prophetick days did not commence before the rise of the little horn of the He Goat.
2. Those day [sic] did not commence a[f]ter the destruction of Jerusalem & ye Temple by the Romans A.[D.] 70.
3. The time times & half a time did not commence before the year 800 in wch the Popes supremacy commenced
4. They did not commence after the re[ig]ne of Gregory the 7th. 1084
5. The 1290 days did not commence b[e]fore the year 842.
6. They did not commence after the reigne of Pope Greg. 7th. 1084
7. The diffence [sic] between the 1290 & 1335 days are a parts of the seven weeks.

So have you figured it out yet?

Don't worry, most of that was gobbledygook to us too. But simply put, Newton believes that the 'end of the world' will occur in 2060 - a mere 37 years away.

This date is 1260 years from the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire, which was founded in the year 800.

Luckily for modern scientists in awe of his achievements, Newton based this figure on religion rather than reasoning, and there is also some room for interpretation.

Andrei Tapalaga, the curator of History of Yesterday, said:

"Now there is a lot to digest for those that do not have a good grasp of Christianity. First of all, the term 'end of the world' has many meanings in this world, but what Newton means by the end of the world is something different from what most people refer to as the end of the world. Most people define it as the end of existence or the end of our humanity where we all die.

"The 'end of the world' that Newton is referring to in this theory based on the Book of Daniel is that this will be when Jesus will come back and bring peace to this world by being the ruler for a whole millennium.

"Jesus would burn all of those that have corrupted Christianity for their own personal gain and teach us all to live in harmony. Those that oppose him will face his wrath and those who embrace him will face his love."

So that clears that up.

Related links:

Ben Stiller refuses to apologise for Tropic Thunder and says he’s ‘proud’ of the film

Bella Ramsey explains how a nonbinary identity has helped her play Ellie in The Last of Us

I Am Legend sequel starring original cast officially in the works