In 2 Timothy 4:8 paul says the lord will give him a crown of righteousness at that day.
As one of God's anointed, (with the "heavenly calling". Hebrews 3:1) Paul expected to receive his crown along with all the other anointed Heavenly rulers. At that time no one knew when Christ would return to take them "home" to where he had prepared a place for them.
I think that day was after he died
Paul himself knew that all would "sleep in death" until Christ returned to take them to heaven. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16)
Because It says in 2 Timothy 4:6 paul thought he was departing. Like in Philippines 1:19-26.
He was speaking about his death....which he knew many a release from his sinful flesh.
He said...
"I am torn between these two things, for I do desire the releasing and the being with Christ, which is, to be sure, far better. 24 However, it is more necessary for me to remain in the flesh for your sakes. 25 So, being confident of this, I know I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and your joy in the faith".
With their anointing comes an inordinate desire to leave their fleshly body and be given a new spiritual body. Flesh and blood cannot exist in heaven, so a bodily transformation is necessary. Paul longed for that time, but was to stay in the flesh to be of service to his brothers.
Also it says in Ecclesiastes 12:7.That after a person dies their spirit goes right to God.
Their spirit is their breath. Adam was made alive by the "breath (spirit) of life". Once the spirit (breath) goes out of a person, only God can restore that spirit (breath) in a new resurrected body. Their breath (future life) is now in God's hands.
David realised this when he said...
4 His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground;
On that very day his thoughts perish." (Psalm 146:4)
I am confused.Because I thought when you die you are fully out of existence.Like in Ecclesiastes 9:5.
You die physically, but you live in God's memory. He remembers every single one of us, so that our resurrection is assured.
There is nothing in Paul's words that indicate otherwise when you understand what he believed about his own future and that of others with the heavenly calling.
There are two resurrections....the "first" is for the anointed who will go to heaven, (Revelation 20:6) and the second is for those who will live forever on earth. (John 5:28-29 ; Revelation 21:2-4)