He did not make them wait thousands of years. The accounts of Mary hugging him and others seeing him are clear. He has already physically returned. He even said those who pierced his side would witness his physical return. He kept his word. Jesus also promised to his disciples that when he returned he would transfer the kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit to them. His promise is in the Bible. And when he returned physically, the Bible confirms that he did indeed transfer both of these to his disciples. However, some of them were skeptical after he did this for them. Nevertheless, whether they were able to fully appreciate his gift or not, he gave them the Kingdom and the Holy Spirit as he promised he would upon his return. They could receive it in their current life at that moment he gave it, or later if need be, in the life to come. Further he told them they all had the skill of passing on the realities of both the Kingdom and the Holy Spirit to others who were open and willing to receive it.

Again, he kept his word. Perhaps you may wonder, why so strong a belief exists in the mind of so many Christians that Jesus never physically returned, or all the accounts in the Bible of his physical return somehow don't count. Most Christians don't believe Jesus returned because there are a number of literal beliefs held that Jesus specifically mentioned should not be expected to occur. These beliefs can be distilled into one idea. Many Christians mistakenly believe in a literal outer kingdom. This belief exists is despite that such a kingdom is not what was promised to anyone. It is because of this expectation they can easily point to anywhere on the earth and see that OUTWARDLY there is no kingdom of God. But, to repeat, he never made that promise. The kingdom is inward and Jesus set up a spiritual condition than can be experienced when we inwardly join with him.