You reflect on a very common emotion and sentiment. And that is, how it works out that those who just happen to die after Pentecost get to attain heaven, whereas all those before don't, just because they were born too late. Doesn't that seem odd and just a little unfair? Sure it does! But Jehovah knows how to bend the rules to get what he wants. Christ had to die in sacrifice first, before anyone could be anointed. So it does happen that some after Pentecost, during their lives, attain that greatness that John the Baptist and others didn't attain during their lives. But no problem, they will attain that greatness after the resurrection back into the flesh. Thus the kingdom of the heavens will include many who died before Pentecost.
Another way we know that Daniel and others will be part of the first resurrection is because it is clear they get their reward during the "last days." Daniel 12:13 "nd as for you yourself, go toward the end; and you will rest, but you will stand up for your lot at the end of the days." The first resurrection occurs at the end of the days, meaning the last two days of 1000 years before the millennium. There is no resurrection during the millennium so that means Daniel must be part of the 1st resurrection, which is only of the elect. Now Daniel could not be resurrected to heavenly life without being anointed, so the first resurrection must first be in the flesh again, which, of course, is clearly noted in scripture. The resurrection is a two-phase event. First in the imperfect flesh again, and then in the incorruptible spirit.
But that also makes more sense that Abraham and Daniel and others would be in the kingdom with Christ and not simply enjoy life on the earth, simply because they were born too early.
Ironically, the same goes within the organization itself. The organization over 77 years from 1914 to 1991 is illustrated by the vineyard workers. An hour is 7 years, so 11 hours is 77 years beginningin 1914. When the third-hour workers come into the picture, they are not told they will receive the "penny", which is heavenly life. So this creates a two-class system within the organization starting with the third-hour workers. The third hour ends after 21 years. Add 21 to 1914 and you get 1935, the year the "other sheep" earthly class was recognzied. So for all those years, the other sheep accepted the lower reward of earthly life whereas the earliest ones in the organization were all of the anointed. Seem a little unfair. Maybe. But note the parable! Once the 12th hour starts and Christ arrives he begins to pay the workers all the same, the penny! That means the other sheep class, are invited into the kingdom after 1991! ALL get the penny, not just the earliest workers! So while our sentiment for those who died before Pentecost was that it seemed a little unfair just because they were born too early, it seems a little unfair for the "other sheep" that they came into the truth too late. But it turns out, that ALL of them, though at different times, are invited into the kingdom!
So technically, YOU could be one of the anointed! Remember how Christ begins to invite some into the kingdom and they are surprised? They didn't know why they were being invited into the kingdom. So some might not find out they have been chosen for the kingdom until after the millenniuim begins! Even so, if you are chosen, even of the "other sheep" class, you could be part of the heavenly class. But keep in mind, the 144,000 are the natural Jews who are in the kingdom who make up the "root" (Isa 6:13). They are only 1/10th. So the entire number in the kingdom is 10x144K or 1,440,000! So plenty of seats that must be filled. Plus there is a high failure rate of those who were "invited" into the kingdom, those of the anointed who fail. Thus the "grapes of wrath" is a huge number of those Christians and anointed ones who fail to qualify, due to not paying attention to putting the Watchtower's interests over the truth of God's word. Even so, the bottom line is that ALL the workers, meaning including the other sheep from 1935-1991, representing the 3rd through the 11th-hour workers, get the penny just like the first-hour workers! So God is not impartial.
The anointing may occur at different times for some than others, but who cares, as long as you get into the kingdom!
So though you might plan to survive Armageddon and live a long life in a paradise earth, there is still a possibility, if you are chosen, that you will attain the greater prize, which is heavenly life with Christ.
LS
