I think there is not an inconsistency but a dichotomy between temporary history and ultimate history as regards cyclical history and progressive history. I think there is the former condition and it does go on and on, and then progressive history begins to reign AFTER the Messiah reigns.
I think there is much in every time which can seem like “progress” but the only progress that concerns G-d is moral progress with a combined faith in almighty G-d. The rest that is “modern” at any time is in the appearance of things and not underlying moral conditions, which may be better or worse at any “current” time, regardless of material or technological conditions.|
And, I think we truly do not know how much, be it centuries, millenniums or eons that cycles will repeat before Christ reigns and progressive history begins.
We could say that going from tyranny to extending the vote to everyone was a form of progress, but they extended the vote to everyone in the Soviet Union, and there are those who claim (with good reason) that voting in the West is not truly democratic as the citizenry is not properly educated and the information they receive is deceptive and skewed.
Currently we are about to abolish sex distinctions. Also, we are supposed to simultaneously believe that there is no such thing as race and only Whites are racist. We are to believe that something only a few years ago defined as a mental disorder is now something that must be respected and enforced by law, i.e. transgenderism.
In what way is this moral progress?
The Christian message that came out of the Jewish community is that much of mankind will devolve into complete disorder and perversion before the Messiah comes. I don't see that as progressive rather than cyclical since it seems to be a repeat of what happened right before The Flood.