What does the Bible say about death being like sleep?

In the Bible, particularly in John 11:11-14, Jesus refers to Lazarus as sleeping, indicating that death for believers is a temporary state of rest rather than a finality. This analogy is comforting as sleep does not invoke fear; rather, it is seen as harmless, representing peace and relief after the labors of life. Similar comforting imagery is seen throughout Scripture, such as in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, where Paul reassures believers that those who have died in Christ will be awakened at His return, thus reinforcing the concept that death is a state of temporary rest in Christ.