There is no US airforce, Soviet army equivalent bearing down on wtBtS. inc.
However in the mind set of JWs has to be always be upheld a certain a fear of persecution from all sides. Without tue persecution komplex the fearmingering wird Armageddon ideology has little target.
German people gave up the Nazi ideology without any struggle at all.
Similarly JWs would say: "Some believed in that and that, but that was until the Slave Governing Body died off and got its heavenliy reward. It is not possible that so many died because they refused a lifesaving transfusion. It is not possible that they covered up crimes or Destroyed families We never did that. Anyway thats old trash. Now we go with the time."