There is a middle ground. It is quite possible to misunderstand what God means. Because of the very complex subject matter he is communicating to us and our lack of a foundation for understanding "eternal" things, it is hard to know when he is being literal and when he is being allegorical.
As an aside, there have been many amateur theologians who have used the old saw, "If you don't accept my literal interpretation of the Bible, you are calling God a liar."
That doesn't work.;-)
There are those placed in the spirit of slumber…. For their own protection. No flesh is going to wake one placed in a heaven sent slumber.