With modern Physics to aid us, we can assert that since we do not understand how dimension TIME is woven to the soul and spirit, it is very possible that to the dead the leaving the body and awakening with The Lord is as an instant. I don’t follow what happens around the neighborhood when I’m asleep. Paul does say ‘we shall not all sleep’ and he also states the dead in Christ He will bring WITH Jesus when the calling out occurs. But it is somewhat confusing since Paul also states there in the letter tot he Thessolanicans that the dead in Christ shall rise first yet God is bring them With Jesus ... at the very least we ought to exercise caution in discerning the very real dimensional differences in body and soul.
While we are like the blind men inspecting the elephant; you've shown the problem of the pachyderm.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Clearly they are not sleeping as we would relate to sleeping.