There is a basic principle about who is an elect and will be in the first resurrection. They must be 'in' Christ, but Christ must be in them as well, and that is only by the Holy Spirit of Christ indwelling.
Rom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
John 17:21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
The Spirit of Christ was not offered or given to anybody until Christ was born into the world, lived a human life, was crucified as a sin offering and then resurrected, all this had to happen first.
The thief on the cross right there beside Christ, died before Christ was risen!
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send
in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you.
John 15:26 And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me.
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness,Those in the first resurrection will be sent into this world to rule with Christ, they will be ready to go when resurrected, because they will have been prepared through the study of the Word of Scripture already. Who do you think the Bible, Word of God, was prepared and preserved for anyway? The world/church? Come on, it is so God can train/prepare His elect. The words printed in the Bible are just words to the world/church, but to His elect they teach them the Spirit of life.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
2Co 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Don't think that anybody will casually enter the kingdom at the first resurrection, it is only those few that the Spirit has taught how to live righteous, and that knowledge comes from much Scripture study that is preserved especially for the elect and meditation on those things and being continually in pray. Yes it is putting God first and coming to a very close relationship with Christ, and certainly putting your fellowman before yourself.
Think about how the Apostles lived and we have Ray as a modern time example as well, that is living a righteous life, that is what it will take to be in the first resurrection. Maybe read the Bible study 'How Hard is Getting Saved?' at this link
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3849.0.htmlmercy, peace and love
Kat