OK, I understand your differentiation between kingdom and new creation. I think it’s an important distinction, but I cannot see them as an and/or dichotomy as I think you are presenting them here.

Yes, the gospel writers were looking for something soon, and they got it as discussed elsewhere. However the church (correctly) has not left these prophesies and prayers to get moldy, but have infused them with new meanings that bring relevance to their communities. I think most biblical scholars would also agree that this is what the gospel writers were doing with the actual words of Jesus.

Without wandering too far off topic, I think this is important and leads to my next point: My understanding is that the new creation is present, in part, wherever God’s reign is accepted/re-presented. What good is a reign if it doesn’t influence the things under it? So I imagine these motifs working both together…From Pentecost, when Christ through the Spirit took up leadership of His disciples again, through to now-and-beyond as he is the leader of the church.

I think God’s reign and new creation must coexist.