People speak of horrendous situations they are in by saying 'this is hell'. Jesus used horrendous situations as pictures of hell. The reality is worse than anything in this world because God, the gospel and hope are always present in this world. So Jesus intends us to feel fear when He describes hell, so that we may take warning and escape it. He experienced a taste of it on the cross. It is real, so we must seek the Lord while we can find Him.