What matters is how the Christians immediately following understood Jesus' words (and John's).
And those who immediately followed Christ wrote this:
the times, indeed, therefore, of the ignorance God having overlooked, doth now command all men everywhere to reform,
because He did set a day in which He is about to judge the worldin righteousness, by a man whom He did ordain, having given assurance to all, having raised him out of the dead.'
Acts 17:30-31 (YLT)
having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for,
that there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;
Acts 24:15 (YLT)
so that
you [Corinthians!] are not lacking in any gift,
awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:7-8 (NASB)
But this I say, brethren,
the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it;
for the form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NASB)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle
spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:4-5 (NASB)
For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how
you [Thessalonians] turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and
to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB)
For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even
you [Thessalonians],
in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 (NASB)
I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
whois about to judge living and deadat his manifestation and his reign--
2 Timothy 4:1 (YLT)
When He said, "A new
covenant," He has made the first obsolete.
But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NASB)
so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,
will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
Hebrews 9:28 (NASB)
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
James 5:7-8 (NASB)
Therefore,
prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)
The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober
spirit for the purpose of prayer.
1 Peter 4:7 (NASB)
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
1 Peter 4:17 (ESV)
Children,
it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared;
from this we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 2:18 (NASB)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants,
the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated
it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
Revelation 1:1 (NASB)
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it;
for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 (NASB)
~'Therefore repent; or else
I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
Revelation 2:16 (NASB)
~'Nevertheless what
you [Thyatira] have,
hold fast until I come. Revelation 2:25 (NASB)
~'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance,
I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ~
'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Revelation 3:10-11 (NASB)
And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants
the things which must soon take place. "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."
Revelation 22:6-7 (NASB)
And he *said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book,
for the time is near.
Revelation 22:10 (NASB)
"
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward
is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
Revelation 22:12 (NASB)
He who testifies to these things says, "
Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20 (NASB)
Jesus said He would return while some of them still lived and they passed on that belief in the letters they wrote. Their belief in His imminent return was pervasive and overwhelming. If Jesus Christ did not come as He promised them, then He lied to them and they - in turn - have lied to us.
If Futurism is true, Jesus Christ and His apostles lied.
