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That isn't the same thing as sleeping, cf the Dead Men.
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I'm not sure we know what it is. Two possibilities:
1) Since the Akallabeth was the result of Eru's direct intervention, he certainly could have revoked the Gift of Men to Ar-Pharazon and his followers, causing them to exist in their physical bodies, in some sort of suspended animation?, until the End.
Or maybe their bodies were destroyed and their Fëa imprisoned in a sort of Mandos until they will be re-embodied at the time of the Dagor Dagorath. They did want to be like the Elves, didn't they? Be careful what you wish for...
Of course, both possibilities above are only speculations.
Since the Akallabeth is a unique example of Eru taking matters into his own hands, it is somewhat different than the Dead Men, whose Fëa were prevented from leaving until they had made good on their promise to Isildur. Presumably this was done by one of the Valar at Isuldur´s behest.
Whose side will the Numenoreans fight on in the last battle? Based on the behavior of Men in Tolkien's writing (and in real life!), I would expect some to do the Right Thing...and others--perhaps most--to do the Wrong Thing.