Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John Hardcover – September 30, 2010

Just knowing that such a scientist of Isaac Newton's caliber read and understood to some degree Daniel and Revelation is refreshing. Most today probably would assume all scientists were atheists or agnostics. That said, Newton takes a historicist view of Daniel and Revelation and in stunning detail at times. This is actually what I was looking for. If someone can explain away the details of Daniel and Revelation in a way that actually makes Biblical sense, then I at least would be able to juxtapose those views with my Premillenialism. While interesting reading from a historical position, Newton's thesis is not compelling. What a shame that his great mind was stunted by his times and suppositions. Had he lived in the days of the return of Israel to their land, perhaps his views would change. But an interesting read.

As brilliant as he was, Newton messed up with his time table for eschatology. So he should have said 2016 instead of 2060 ....and sadly his take on 1 Timoth 3:16 and 1 John 5:7 were incorrect. It is amazing how he claimed the Bible was the most accurate thing in human civilization...and made errors on these issues.

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.

This is a book I read online years ago and thought I needed to add to my bookshelf. I believe Isaac Newton spent a lot of time with God going to him with questions on his mind and God answered him with the small things like an apple hitting him on the head. I agree with a lot of his historical views of interpretation but am not premillenial. During his time (as he states in his book)a lot of expositor's saw more fullfilment of the prophesies of Daniel in the first coming of Christ as do I. I also believe the feet of iron and clay are both Roman and Jew. The kingdoms represented are kingdoms that ruled Jerusalem and at the time of Christ the Jews had a priestly rulership though it was a man-made one (clay) while the Romans had a strong-arm rulership (iron). This is an eye opener for anyone who has not read any interpretation from a historical viewpoint and well worth the price. Relatively short and to the point.

Anyone who's interested in Biblical prophecy should want to know Newton's thoughts on the subject.

This book is a fascinating trip through the most brilliant (human) mind, in my opinion, in history. Although his conclusions about which countries were represented by the different symbols in Daniel and Revelation — due to his position in our timeline — his amazingly studious research was as thorough as it could have possibly been. His proximity in time to the literature he references makes for a very interesting perspective. I did, however, skip almost all of the latin and old/middle french he writes in (at length) so I managed to read through the book in a couple of days. This is as much a study of Newton's quirky - Shakespearian writing style as it is of Daniel and Revelation.

I wish I could read Latin and Greek. I would have been able to get much more from the book.

Purchased as a gift. They seemed to like it, but they asked for it directly. I wish I could give more insight.

I am still reading this book so have not fully formed an opinion but I do like it.

If you want an educated interpretation of John's Revelation (number of the beast, etc.) this is very interesting. Good read.

Everything as expected, Excellent choice, great purchase.

The format is difficult to read

The book should be updated... written in Old English, I found it hard to read and he gives a detailed account of history, page after page..Yawn... wish I hadn't bought it.. a lot of Catholic bashing!!! just boring...