Then how come so many christians expect him to come in the very near future?
End-times hysteria seems to have become more popular after WW1 and the advent of globalism. But it's clear throughout Scripture that we don't know exactly when Christ is coming or when the end times will be, so all we can do is keep watch for Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Matthew 24:36-51 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,[
e] but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah
were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two
men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two
women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour[
f] your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed
is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’[
g] 49 and begins to beat
his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for
him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint
him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mark 13:32-37
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34
It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Matthew 25:13
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour[
a] in which the Son of Man is coming.
Luke 12:35-48
“Let your waist be girded and
your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed
are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down
to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find
them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and[
d] not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable
only to us, or to all
people?”
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom
his master will make ruler over his household, to give
them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed
is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for
him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint
him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare
himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.