My review of Newton’s discussion of the 1,260 days and the “time, times, and half time” can be found here:
https://2046ad.org/the-great-convergence/
In the Book of Revelation, we find that these two expressions are of equivalent value: Revelation 12:6, cf. 12:14.
It is worth mentioning that Newton believed in a third expression: “3 1/2 days” (Observations, p. 98, Anodos edition). He regarded the prophetic ministry of the “two witnesses” in Revelation 11 – whose “dead bodies” are refused burial for 3 1/2 days (11:9) – was also code for “three and a half day-years” (“time, times, and half time” = 1,260 years) suggesting two periods of that length (because these prophets cannot be “dead” and prophesying at the same time), unless one of them is comprehended within the time frame of the distinct 1,290 days.
Newton’s treatment of the 2,300 days and the 1,260 days are in his published works, but not what he said about the 1,290 days. Even though I introduced it in the above study, my reliance upon Newton’s interpretation of the 1,290 days to arrive at 2046 AD comes from his unpublished manuscripts, which the one under discussion here is illustrative.
Unlike the 1,260 and the “times of the Gentiles,” I believe the 1,290 days may be based upon astronomical calculations rather than historical events. Or perhaps, the 1,335 days, which is considered “the blessed” period, represents the world after God’s Great Eschaton. If these time frames are concurrent rather than successive, it might signify a 45 year transition period after that period of judgment, or perhaps the length of that period.
If the 1,260 days, the 1,290 days, and the 1,335 days are concurrent and overlapping within the larger 2,300 day timeline, then we would be looking for transitional events, either of historical significance or perhaps cosmological significance.
For example, while the 1,260 days is orientated to the “abomination of desolation” – discussed by Daniel, Revelation, and even Jesus (Matthew 24, et al) – and which Newton associates with the introduction of Papal supremacy, the 2,300 days is orientated to the activities of the “little horn of the He-goat.” The entire textual reference can be found in Daniel 8, which basically describes the propagation of what scholars call the “Hellenizing” of the ancient world, most notably in Ptolemy, which also reformed Roman culture, as well. More another time.
Newton’s Proposition 7 in which he argues that 1,260 days and the 1,335 days are “a part of the seven weeks” (not seventy weeks) comes from Daniel 7 and his description of the ministry of the Messiah. Totaling 1290 plus 1335 we get 2,625, which is 105 days more than what 7 prophetic years would be (2,520). But if we subtract one from the other, we get a difference of 45 days or years. The seven weeks represents 7×7 or 49 years so we seem to be off. However, in Daniel’s calculations, 45 plus 3 and 1/2 gets us into the 49th year and might work.
We should revisit the Hebrew (Aramaic) here to see if traditional translators have made a mistake. For example, Josephus translates Daniel to say 1,296 days. Does he get that number from the Septuagint or an earlier Hebrew text? Or was Josephus mistranslated?
Also, the works of William Whiston, Newton’s assistant, should be consulted, as he, unlike Newton, was allowed to write on religious topics and can be relied upon to represent a “Newtonian” point of view. Whiston was responsible for the translation of the Works of Josephus into English, the edition relied upon by scholars even to this day. Consequently, his works should be consulted because Whiston’s views would have been shaped by what he learned in that process of translation.
The final pages of Whiston’s book, Astronomical Principles of Religion, Natural and Revealed (1717), sets the cyclical appearance of “the Great Comet of 1680” at every 575 years. Did he and Newton calculate Daniel’s prophecies from such celestial apparitions?
See Part 2 of this series for review:
https://2046ad.org/forensic-analysis-of-newtons-notes-part-2/
In Newton’s propositions cited above, certain years are suggested to have prophetic significance: 800 AD (P.3), 1084 AD (P.4), 842 AD (P.5), and in his conclusion, 2132 AD, 2370 AD, 2060 AD, 2090 AD, and 1374 AD. There is one date where an entry is lacking.
(to be continued)
JWS, 4/23/23
