RE: Part 1: Objections to "Death as sleeping". A look at what some of the arguments against the state of the dead.

Have you read:

It was near the time for the Lord to take Elijah by a whirlwind up into heaven. Elijah and Elisha started to leave Gilgal.
2 Kings 2:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Kings%202:1&version=ERV

Elijah and Elisha were walking and talking together. Suddenly, some horses and a chariot came and separated Elijah from Elisha. The horses and the chariot were like fire. Then Elijah was carried up into heaven in a whirlwind.
2 Kings 2:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Kings%202:11&version=ERV