What is soul sleep and is it true according to the Bible?

Soul sleep is the erroneous belief that the soul is unconscious after death until the resurrection. However, Scripture clearly indicates that upon death, the soul of a believer enters into the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:8). The language of 'sleep' in Scripture refers to the body, not the soul. As seen in Luke 23:43, Jesus assures the penitent thief that he would be with Him in paradise that very day, affirming the immediacy of the believer's presence with the Lord after death. Thus, the concept of soul sleep contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the immediate state of the soul after death.