“No man knoweth the day nor the hour,” was the argument most often brought forward by rejecters of the advent faith. The scripture is, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”(610) A clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by those who were looking for the Lord, and the wrong use made of it by their opponents was clearly shown. The words were spoken by Christ in that memorable conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after He had for the last time departed from the temple. The disciples had asked the question, “What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Jesus gave them signs, and said, “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”(611) One saying of the Saviour must not be made to destroy another. Though no man knoweth the _day_ nor the _hour_ of His coming, we are instructed and required to know when it is near. We are further taught that to disregard His warning, and refuse or neglect to know when His advent is near, will be as fatal for us as it was for those who lived in the days of Noah not to know when the flood was coming. And the parable in the same chapter, contrasting the faithful and the unfaithful servant, and giving the doom of him who said in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” shows in what light Christ will regard and reward those whom He finds watching, and teaching His coming, and those denying it. “Watch therefore,” He says; “blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.”(612) “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”(613) Paul speaks of a class to whom the Lord’s appearing will come unawares. “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape.” But He adds, to those who have given heed to the Saviour’s warning, “Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”(614)