I think that perhaps it fills an emotional need for your hard-core xtians to have evidence of a definite "threat". Put another way, if you've a bunch of crazy Satan worshipping conspirators running around out to upset the Lord's plan, they feel better, sort of a screwy validation for them. And maybe it provides an explanation to them for why society is so "Godless". 
“To terrify children with the image of hell, to consider women an inferior creation—is that good for the world?”
― Christopher Hitchens
"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject". - George Santayana
"If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed". - George Carlin
― Christopher Hitchens
"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject". - George Santayana
"If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed". - George Carlin
