Actually, Jesus promised he would return within a generation of
his death.
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not
pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not
pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass
away: but my words shall not pass away.
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there
be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death,
till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass
away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away:
but my words shall not pass away.
And when that didn't happen, the early church was thrown into
crisis and they started coming up with all kinds of
explanations.
