Another kingdom text can be found at Matthew 16:24-28: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ?If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.?.

1. If the Messiah suffers, those who are connected to him will also suffer; discipleship takes its cues from Christology.
2. Losing with Jesus is winning with God.
3. The Son of Man will come into his Father’s glory (this does not say “return” to earth as many assume) with angels and hand out rewards to his followers. This text assumes Daniel 7.
4. The warning is this: some standing with Jesus — at that point — will not die before something huge happens.
5. That “huge” is seeing the “Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Again, “coming” does not mean “descend,” though it could; it could also mean “ascend.” Inasmuch as Son of Man is the principle figure, and since Dan 7 is the background, the motion of that Son of Man should be our first inclination. That would mean the Son of Man’s “coming” is an “ascent” into the presence of the Ancient of Days in order to receive glory and kingdoms. It’s in your Bible, go ahead and look up the motion of the Son of Man in Daniel 7.
6. Within 30 or so years the disciples will see this happen. What happened in that time? The most likely interpretation (for me) is 70 AD as an event that demonstrates the Messianic status of Jesus and which establishes Jesus as Lord. The sacking of Jerusalem vindicates Jesus and those attached to him.