According to this recent survey by The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 58% of Americans say it’s probable that another world war will occur within the next 40 years and nearly 53% expect the United States to face another terrorist attack, except this one will include nuclear weapons.
This report includes other interesting things surveyed, such as: the probability of an asteroid hitting earth, China overtaking the U.S. as the world’s main superpower, and a single global currency.
On a different (but equally interesting) topic covered by the survey, approximately 4 of 10 people surveyed (41%) expect Jesus Christ to return to earth by 2050, while 46% of people say that it will definitely or probably not happen. Little has changed since 1999 when 44% of people surveyed said it would definitely or probably not happen.
Without any year attached, it is not unusual to think about Christ's return. In our deepest heart of hearts, that is where we long to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjn3fBTvBjY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ8czdx_AOM (Actually, taken from 3rd movement of cantata, or from the organ chorale prelude)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owNFDPIPoSk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCmdhJCmEPg
The only problem is when people forget the part about no one, including Jesus, knows the hour this happens.
A correction. The setting of Sleepers Awake (Wachet Auf) is the fourth movement of the cantata, not third. It still gave rise to the famous organ chorale prelude by Bach, who couldn't ever let a good thing go only one time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wachet_auf,_ruft_uns…
Did I ever mention that I learned how to play the piano because I really wanted to learn how to play the organ after hearing this chorale prelude? Yea, and it is all about the Second Coming.