From the Sept 1881 WT reprints. p250 Why Evil Was Permitted. (Note: this is presented as a fictional dialogue between 3 people. Not sure if this is Russell's take or not, but I found it interesting. I'll have to reread the article and try to find out. Its freaking long 😅)
"Therefore, I claim that God not only foresaw man's fall into sin but designed it: it was a part of his plan. God permitted, nay, designed man's fall' and why? Because having the remedy provided for his release from it's consequences, he saw that the result would be to lead man to a knowledge, through experience, which would enable him to see the bitterness and blackness of sin."
As far as my opinion, I don't know what I believe anymore. Just became POMO last year after 50 years in. I'm in the early stages of reconstructing things.