The writers of the Bible used several different Greek words for the English word sleep or asleep. It usually depended upon the context. For a person who was alive, but sleeping the Greek words katheudo or hupnos and sometimes koimao were used. Koimao though also carries the meaning of one being asleep in death. Below the words that are translated from koimao will be in bold.
What does the Bible say about Lazarus when he was dead?
John 11:11
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
What does the Bible say about Steven when he died?
Acts 7:60
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
What does the Bible say about David?
Acts 13:36
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
What did Paul say to the Corinthians about some of them?
1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Here are a few more.
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
Psalms 115:17 The dead do not praise Yahweh, nor do any who go down into silence.
Job 3:13 For now I should have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept. Then I would have been at rest
14 with kings and wise men of the earth, who built ruins for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver;
16 or as a hidden untimely birth I would not have been, like infants who did not see light.
Job 10:21-22 "Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness."
Job 14:12 so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be awakened out of their sleep.
Doubtless if the dead were aware then Abraham, who is pictured in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, would certainly know all that is happening.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless You are our Father, Though Abraham was ignorant of us, And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O YHVH, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
Yes there are many more very good verses concerning what happens when one dies, but these should be enough to make the point. This is not what most churches are teaching. We must take all of God's word together.