So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses.”​—1 Thess. 5:4-6.

22. Should the fact that we do not know when the “day” will come cause us to relax our alertness?

²² Clearly, then, the fact that we do not know just when the “great tribulation” will break nor when the thousand-year reign of God’s Son will begin does not lessen the need for alertness today. It greatly increases and heightens the need for being awake, watchful, ready. If we knew the exact time we might be tempted to relax and to feel that as that time drew nearer we could begin to get ourselves ready. But our not knowing requires us to be ready all the time. The whole tenor of God’s Word the Bible, and particularly the counsel of his Son, is to that effect.