I grew up in Pittsburgh Pa. where Russel started this insane religion. I was told as a kid that our congregation had many of the annointed, 7 or 8 in a congregation of 30, because this was where the work got started. (the congregations were small then) I remember asking several of these annointed individuals at various times, how they "knew" they were selected to rule with Christ in heaven? I must point out that at the time I believed they were hand picked by Jesus as annointed ones, I just wanted to know how they knew. I would ask them when I worked with them in service, I would ask at the book study, I would ask anytime I had a chance to be alone with one of them. The answers were all pretty much the same. "You just know" was the most common response. I was always disappointed with the responses I got. I guess I wanted to hear that confirmation came in the form of "a dream" like Peter received when he needed his thinking enlightened,, or that Jehovah actually spoke to one of them, or "Holy Spirit" overwhelmed them and lightning flashed in front of them! A burning bush....anything. I needed it to be more than "You just know" One sister in particular elaborated a little more by telling me as a spirit annointed member of the "little flock" she became obsessed with "learning". She hungered like never before for truths from the "faithful and discreet slave" (Hey aren't you "the slave?") She couldn't read enough of the books and magazines. I remember thinking she did seem different, more spiritual. It wasn't until she entered a Catholic hospital for a necessary surgery, and said she came under attack by the demons in the Catholic hospital because she was of the annointed, and she saw the crucifix on the hospital wall begin to crawl up the wall, and across the ceiling, that I realized she was a whack job! (I didn't understand the effects of hospital drugs, and a predisposed mind, at the time)
Seroiusly though, as a young man, I wondered why she and all the others selected by God to rule in heaven with Christ weren't somehow more clearly identifiable than "You just know", and later in my life why these selected few had no input whatsoever in matters of "new light" from the slave when it came to ever changing doctrine. Seeds of doubt planted at such a young age that took nearly 50 years to blossom.
Better late ......than never