Almost every religion denies death, by teaching that death is a continuation of life. Sometimes a higher form of life, sometimes a lower form. Think of the doctrine of the immortal soul, but also that of reincarnation. Both are a denial of death (Gen. 3:4).
The Bible presents death as a sleep. Sleep is a state of rest for body and mind, in which consciousness is switched off. Because this is characteristic of the state of death, death is compared to sleep in Scripture. The dead sleep until they are awakened and in the sleep of death there is no consciousness.
John 11
11 These things he said, and afterward he said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go that I may wake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples unto him, Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well.
13 But Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep.
Matthew 9
24 And he said, Go thy way: for the damsel died not, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
the hope for the dead
Nowhere does the Bible teach that the hope for the dead is that they lift up their eyes on the other side in an afterlife. The hope of the dead is that they will be raised. If God does not raise the dead, they are no more and are lost (>gone, away)
1 Corinthians 15
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ shall perish.
The dead are said to be asleep, and when they are raised, it is represented as an awakening.
Daniel 12
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to the life of the age, and some to shame and reproach of the age.
Job 14
11 As the water evaporates from the sea, and the river is wasted and dried up,
12 So a man lies down, and he will not rise again; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor be awakened out of their sleep.
no consciousness
Numerous times, and in many different ways, the Bible says that the dead are not conscious. The dead are not in an afterlife or in a halfway station, where they await the final resurrection. What would such a resurrection mean then? People are raised in order to be able to rise, and if they are not dead, it means nothing.
Psalm 31
17 (…) let the wicked be ashamed, let them be silent in the realm of the dead.
Psalm 115
17 The dead cannot praise YAHWEH, nor any of those who go down into silence.
Ecclesiastes 9
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither you go.
Isaiah 38
18 For the grave does not praise you, death does not celebrate you; those who go down to the pit do not regard your faithfulness.