For since we believe that Christ died and was raised, thus also the God will bring with Him the ones sleeping through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
When Christ returns for His bride, the grace believers who have died before His coming will be brought with Him. This gives us hope, for our loved ones and friends are not lost but are waiting for the time when we will all be gathered together to meet Christ.
We also know from Paul’s experience in death that believers are fully awake and aware of their surroundings, while in a place of peace (2 Corinthians 12:2–4). The term “sleep” is a gentle way of stating that a person has died, not an indication that one is in a literal state of sleep after death.