Sigh.
Speaking to the English reader, not the Greek whom is the audience.
The Greek does not use the word for ‘asleep’. They use ‘repose’, which btw is why it is RIP. “Requiescat in pace”
Sorry, my use of the word “sleep” is to be brief.
Have you ever been put under for surgery? I have. It is fascinating in what it teaches me about sleep. That is, the complete lack of perception of the passage of time in being put under demonstrates that while I sleep I am, at some level, aware of the passage of time. When I am put under, I am told to breathe regularly and as I inhale, I am suddenly in the recovery room.
I think that is what death is like: You die and then you are suddenly at the judgement. I can’t say for sure, but it’s not important, really. For me it is like arguing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. When I get involved in discussions like this post is when people argue that the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin is most definitely 14 and if you don’t agree then you don’t have the truth.