The most popular dates of modern times for the end of the world, or what is practically the same thing, the Millennium, are the following:--1757, Swedenborg; 1836, Johann Albrecht Bengel, Erklärte Offenbarung; 1843, William Miller, of America; 1866, Dr. John Cumming; 1881, Mother Shipton.
It was very generally believed in France, Germany, etc., that the end of the world would happen in the thousandth year after Christ; and therefore much of the land was left uncultivated, and a general famine ensued. Luckily, it was not agreed whether the thousand years should date from the birth or the death of Christ, or the desolation would have been much greater. Many charters begin with these words, As the world is now drawing to its close. Kings and nobles gave up their state: Robert of France, son of Hugh Capet, entered the monastery of St. Denis; and at Limoges, princes, nobles, and knights proclaimed “God’s Truce,” and solemnly bound themselves to abstain from feuds, to keep the peace towards each other, and to help the oppressed.--Hallam, The Middle Ages (1818).
Another hypothesis is this: As one day with God equals a thousand years (Psalm xc. 4), and God labored in creation six days, therefore the world is to labor 6000 years, and then to rest. According to this theory, the end of the world ought to occur A.M. 6000, or A.D. 1996 (supposing the world to have been created 4004 years before the birth of Christ). This hypothesis, which is widely accepted, is quite safe for another century at least.
Worldly Wiseman (Mr.), one who tries to persuade Christian that it is very bad policy to continue his journey towards the Celestial City. Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, i. (1678).
Worms (Language of). Melampos the prophet was acquainted with the language of worms, and when thrown into a dungeon, heard the worms communicating to each other that the roof overhead would fall in, for the beams were eaten through. He imparted this intelligence to his jailers, and was removed to another dungeon. At night the roof did fall, and the king, amazed at this foreknowledge, released Melampos, and gave him the oxen of Iphiklos.
Worse than a Crime. Talleyrand said of the murder of the Duc d’Enghien by Napoleon I. “It was worse than a crime, it was a blunder.”
Worthies (The Nine). Three Gentiles: Hector, Alexander, Julius Cæsar; three Jews: Joshua, David, Judas Maccabæus; three Christians: Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon.
Worthies of London. (The Nine).
1. Sir William Walworth, fishmonger, who stabbed Wat Tyler, the rebel. For this service King Richard II. gave him the “cap of maintenance” and a “dagger” for the arms of London (Lord Mayor, 1374, 1380).
2. Sir Henry Pritchard or Picard, vintner, who feasted Edward III., the Black Prince, John, king of Austria, the king of Cyprus, and David of Scotland, with 5000 guests, in 1356, the year of his mayoralty.