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If I were you, I would reexamine my "optimism." Scripture nowhere says things are going to get better and better and then Jesus comes. Rather it says men shall wax worse and worse.

I see your biases are showing.

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Tim. 3:13)

Note carefully that it does not say, as you apparently wish it to say, that mankind in general will "wax worse and worse." The word is spoken against a specific group of men, and, like Pharoah, they will continue in the hard-heartedness, growing worse and worse.

Thankfully the King has control over the hearts of men, and, by the power of His Holy Spirit, they are changed from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. This is our delight in the poower of the gospel.

I'm optimistic because Christ is reigning over the nations, and His kingdom is advancing.

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." (Matt. 28)

When Christ claims all authority and commands His followers to make disciples of all the nations, there is an implied expectation of success. There is an expectation that things will get better and better as more nations come under the influence of the gospel. We have seen that in history. The pessimist will not see it becaused they are looking for immediate perfection. But, just like when salvation comes to an individual, subjective holiness (sanctification) is a process that follows on the declaration of objective holiness (justification) which ultimately will lead to total holiness (glorification).

Glorification in the world will come about when sin is once and for all time cast into the lake of fire with Satan and all the enemies of the gospel.