If the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a true story, then how do you explain the following problems?
- Lazarus didn't go to God or to Jesus, but to the Abraham
- The rich man requested permission to go back from Abraham, not from God
- The rich man was able to see Lazarus and speak to Abraham, as if they were the only ones there. Where were all the millions of others who had died before then?
- If we are all judged and sent to Heaven or Hell as soon as we die, why the need for a final Judgment in the future?
As for "soul sleep", there are a number of verses that support the idea.
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (Is. 38:18 KJV)
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Ps. 6:5 KJV)
Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed (I Cor. 15:51 KJV)
There are a many other verses that say that we sleep or that the dead cannot praise or thank God. The only two I can remember that people say "prove" that we don't sleep are the story of Lazarus and the rich man and the fact that Jesus told the thief on the cross next to him "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise". Well, that's how most versions translate it. Some say it should be "Truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise". (Look closely and see if you can tell the difference.)
The TOG