Have you considered?
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses,
even over those not having sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the coming
One.
What is that type? Of the coming One that Paul would refer to in present tense after Jesus had already come and returned home.
1 Corinthians 15:20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
Jesus didn't teach that we sleep after death, did he?