He wouldn't.

If John was writing to seven real, living churches in the first century and told them to prepare for events that were "soon to take place" and that "the time is near" (Revelation 1:1, 1:3, 22:10), then it would be outright deception to say those events were actually meant to happen thousands of years later.

Revelation 1:11 proves audience relevance:

"Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

Why write to them? Because those were the ones who were about to face the tribulation, judgment, and vindication described in the book. Not some far-off generation.

To say otherwise makes Jesus sound dishonest, John irrelevant, and the churches confused. But Jesus was clear. John was obedient. And the churches were warned for their time.

That's the fulfilled view. That's the truth.