What does 1st Thessalonians 5:6 mean?

1 Thess 5.9–10 can be translated: ‘For God has not destined us for wrath but for possession of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, so that whether we may be awake or whether we may be asleep we may together live with him.’ Paul uses the same verb for ‘asleep’ (καθε[upsilon, accent]δωμεν) in 5.10 as he uses in 5.6–8 with the metaphorical sense of being ethically or spiritually negligent in contrast to being ‘awake’ and ‘sober’, that is, ethically or spiritually vigilant: ‘Let us not be asleep (καθε[upsilon, accent]δωμεν) like the rest but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep (καθε[upsilon, accent]δ[omicron]ντε[final small sigma]) sleep (καθε[upsilon, accent]δ[omicron]υσιν) at night and those who get drunk get drunk at night. Since we are of the day, let us be sober . . .’ In 4.13–15 Paul uses a different verb for ‘asleep’ (κ[omicron]ιμ[alpha, accent][omicron]μ[alpha, accent]ι) to refer to those who are physically dead. Nevertheless, most commentators insist upon interpreting καθευδ[omega, accent] in 5.10, not with the meaning it has in 5.6–7, but with the same meaning as καιμα[omicron]μαι in 4.13–15 – those who have physically died. This also requires that ‘awake’ (γρηγ[omicron]ρωμεν) in 5.10 be interpreted as physically ‘alive’ rather than ethically or spiritually ‘vigilant’, the sense it has in 5.6.

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Vs. 8 defines it. Here, it means to rest as we do at night. Words can have different meanings. Does break mean to render useless, or stop working for a while? The verse means to never rest from being vigilant and watchful.

That is symbolic and has nothing to do with real sleep.

It is cross referenced with Matthew 24:37 before the flood of Noah's day they were eating and drinking and the flood came and swept them all away.

Be alert to what is going on in the world and what do these things mean for us.

Is what we are seeing telling us we are in the last days?

"Sleep" is a multiple-use metaphor in the New Testament. Here it means lack of alertness, distraction by trivial worldly concerns.

The parable of the ten virgins would be an obvious parallel. YAHOSHUA is telling people to pay attention, and not be deceived by preachers who teach lies in every way He can. Yet the vast majority slumbers on, headed for the lake of fire.

Weren't the Thessalonians teamed up with the Cardassians on Star Trek?

He means spiritually asleep. And it can also be synonymous with death. Spiritual death. Ephesians 2:1 shows that there are people who are *dead* though living.

It means to be alert and watch for Christ's coming.