The Crack of Doom is an old term used for the Christian Day of Judgement, referring in particular to the blast of trumpets signalling the end of the world in Chapter 8 of the Book of the Apocalypse. A "crack" had the sense of any loud noise, preserved in the phrase "crack of thunder", and Doom was a term for the Last Judgement, as Doomsday still is.
The phrase is famously used in the Day of Judgement sense by William Shakespeare in Macbeth, where on the heath the Three Witches show Macbeth the line of kings that will issue from Banquo:
- 'Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes!
- What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
- Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more:'
(Act 4, scene 1, 112–117)- meaning that Banquo's line will endure until the Judgement Day, flattery for King James I, who claimed descent from Banquo.
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the Professor of Old English plays upon the phrase to provide the literal Crack(s) of Doom, physical cracks — fissures within the great volcano of Orodruin, also known as Mount Doom.
In the Time Tunnel episode, "The Crack of Doom", Tony and Doug try to convince scientists studying the volcano Krakatoa, that it is about to erupt cataclysmically.
In the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode, "Crack of Doom", a poker player finds himself digging deeper and deeper towards ruin.
"Crack of Doom" is the English title of a currently out of print novel by German author Willi Heinrich, which is set in the Second World War. It is about German troops fighting partisans and Soviet forces in Eastern Europe during the closing stages of the war.
"Crack of Doom" is also the title of Tiger Lillies hit from Bad Blood and Blasphemy album.
"At The Crack Of Doom" is a song by Warbringer from the album "War Without End." It features the lyrics, "Satan claims his throne at the crack of doom."
Famous quotes containing the words Crack Of Doom, crack of doom, crack of, crack and/or doom:
“What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Let him not quit his belief that a popgun is a popgun, though the ancient and honorable of the earth affirm it to be the crack of doom.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“‘Tis not such lines as almost crack the stage
When Bajazet begins to rage;
Nor a tall met’phor in the bombast way,
Nor the dry chips of short-lunged Seneca.
Nor upon all things to obtrude
And force some odd similitude.
What is it then, which like the power divine
We only can by negatives define?”
—Abraham Cowley (1618–1667)
“More Safe, and much more modest ‘tis, to say
God wou’d not leave Mankind without a way:
And that the Scriptures, though not every where
Free from Corruption, or intire, or clear,
Are uncorrupt, sufficient, clear, intire,
In all things which our needfull Faith require.
If others in the same Glass better see
‘Tis for Themselves they look, but not for me:
For MY Salvation must its Doom receive
Not from what OTHERS, but what I believe.”
—John Dryden (1631–1700)