My understanding* is that the UN is supposed to be the wild beast of Revelation. The UN only came into being after WWII, so what was the beast before the new light came about? I can't see a speculative organisation like the WT not having an interpretation of the beast before the UN came into being. Even if it was the League of Nations, that came into being after WWII. What was Russell's take on the beast?
*Subject to loving correction, of course! ๐ธ