I recall many years ago being told that the society will be going full steam ahead right up to armageddon- not slowing down.
I was told and agreed that the Bethel complexes will be used in the new world. Makes sense. If the new world was real they WOULD be needed. Jehovah will not destroy his own buildings at armageddon! So the fact that they keep building and expanding Bethel complexes in no way contradicts that they feel the end is near. It always made sense to me, and if I was still a witness it would make sense to me now.