“Start by taking verses like these literally:”
According to what standard? What is your preterist method that can be applied to any verse and tell me whether or not to take it literally?
Unless you can produce it, preterism is nothing but confirmation bias. The verses you take literally are simply the ones that, when taken literally, support your preconceived beliefs.
“...some...standing here...will not taste death...”
Start with the stuff intended to be taken literally and work outward from there.