then there is just plain old common sense applied. what does NIGH and AT HAND mean?
it really depends on the conditions. when jesus appeared the kingdom of heaven was at hand. heck, people could reach out and touch the king! when joel told the ninevites their destruction was at hand, they believed him and repented and that removed the immediacy of the prophecy. they backslid later and destruction came.
backslide. you never hear that term any more. it was once ubiquitous in christian circles. a certain sign of the times. you cant slide backward if you never went forward.