immediate afterlife or sleep?

Priscilla you asked for scriptures regarding afterlife. I had often wondered about this and in scriptures we find it say about sleep, to my knowledge this is usually referred to regarding before Jesus' resurrection. On the cross Jesus spoke to the thief at one side who recognised Him as Messiah and Jesus said today I tell you, you shall be in Paradise with me.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in paradise.
We read in scripture Paul the Apostle speak of being present with the Lord. 2 Coriinthians 5: 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Phil. 1:21-23. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;”
This is confirmed to us when Jesus resurrected. Matthew 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. 
Those who are in Christ are in the Lord. It is often said, we will be surprised who is there when we are there.
God is not willing that anyone should perish and we have this comfort for those who we think may not have made their peace with God for forgiveness and redemption. I know of testimonies of people who have died and been sent back, in their Coma they have experienced God speaking to them, they have had a choice or been sent back to witness to this event and tell others not to take the chance of this happening to them but chose today.

I hope this have been of some help for you.
Blessings Elaine