This common eschatological interpretation misses several key points:

Jesus taught about economic justice throughout his ministry, not just near the end. The Greatest Commandment - to love God and neighbor - isn't an "end times" teaching but a permanent ethical imperative.

The early Christian community's economic practices weren't temporary measures but reflected core values: they called themselves "The Way" and understood their communal life as modeling God's intended social order.

The prophets (like Amos, Isaiah) condemned economic exploitation centuries before any Christian eschatology. Their critique was about ongoing systemic injustice, not end-times preparation.

Acts specifically notes their economic system led to "no needy persons among them" - demonstrating its practical sustainability, not just spiritual symbolism.

The patronage model you mention actually proves the point: even Rome recognized that meeting everyone's basic needs was necessary for social stability. Modern capitalism has abandoned even this basic insight.

The biblical vision of economic justice wasn't about preparing for an imminent end, but about building communities that reflected God's values. That's why these teachings remain relevant for systemic change today.