Yeah, I thought the JW's believed a "Great Tribulation" preceded this attack upon them. I thought they believed this tribulation would be pretty severe. (As in no flesh being saved if it lasted too long...)
Have they abandoned this idea or are they taking liberties with their own teachings?
Not really, they had just focused on the Gog of Magog thing earlier in the day so it was sort of a running theme. I'm guessing that they just assume that the JWs who are into prophecy will just remember how all of it is supposed to play out. Many others will just like the emotional appeal of having Jesus rescue them from "this system of things."