Luke 16:23

This verse describes a specific individual in a state of torment and awareness after death, which is a direct depiction of consciousness after physical death. There is no textual basis to argue it does not support the theme.

The verse uses the English word "hell," which is a translation, and does not explicitly name "Gehenna," "Tartarus," or "Lake of Fire." The description of "torments" could be interpreted as a general state of suffering rather than a specific, named place of punishment.

This passage is part of a parable, and parables often use illustrative language rather than literal descriptions of the afterlife, meaning the torments depicted may not be a precise, literal representation of eternal conscious suffering.

The verse describes a place of torment and a specific interaction between individuals, which is distinct from the concept of "Sheol / The Grave" as a general destination or state of the dead, often associated with a passive or unconscious state. The term "hell" here, while a place of the dead, is presented with active suffering and observation, differentiating it from the more neutral or passive connotations of "the grave" or "Sheol" in some biblical contexts.