Not to sound supportive of the WT but they can say that they know that first the nations give their power to the UN and then the UN/nations turn on BTG, etc... while at the same time say that they don't know when the nations will do that.
That said, why does the WT feel the need to LIE about everything they say/teach. Jackson tried to make it seem at the annually meeting that it was a NEW understanding that they now have to know that before the UN/nations turn on BTG/GT breaks out, that FIRST the nations give their authority to the UN.
He actually claimed that them coming to this NEW understanding was based on reading the surrounding verses. Is that him admitting that they don't actually use the Bible in coming up with their teachings and then when they do read it, they see what the Bible actually says is not what they have been teaching.
This same thing happened a few annually meetings ago when Splane updated the teaching on the Joel locusts. He said that for years they taught that the locusts were JWs but now because of reading the sounding text in the Bible they realize that the locusts were the Northerner, an enemy of God.
Yet in both cases they LIE.
They knew before last year's meeting that the UN is given authority first before taking action.
And they knew before Splane's update about the locusts that the locusts were the Northerner, all the while when they were teaching the locusts were JWs.
Here in the past, they show that the UN would have to get the authority first:
[Revelation Climax – As John soon learns, the time will come when the UN will act with considerable authority. Then it, in its turn, “goes off into destruction.”]
[6-15-12 WT – Any power it (U.N.) has comes from its member nations, especially from its key backer, the Anglo-American World Power. But it does receive authority to act as a king to carry out a specific task,one that triggers a chain of events that will change history.]
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Here about the update on the locusts.
STUDY ARTICLE 14
An Attack Coming From the North!
[w20 April -3 Read Joel 2:7-9. Joel foretells that a plague of locusts will devastate the land of Israel. With teeth and jaws like those of lions, the greedy insects will devour everything in sight! (Joel 1:4, 6) For many years, we have applied that prophecy symbolically to the way in which Jehovah’s people, like an unstoppable swarm of locusts, engage in their preaching activity. We understood that this activity has devastating effects on the “land,” or the people who are under the control of the religious leaders.
4 If we restricted ourselves to a reading of Joel 2:7-9, a case could be made for that explanation. However, when we consider the prophecy in its context, we see that a different understanding is appropriate. Let us examine four reasons why this is so.5 First of all, notice Jehovah’s promise with regard to the plague of locusts: “I will drive the northerner [the locusts] far away from you.” (Joel 2:20) If the locusts represent Jehovah’s Witnesses as they obey Jesus’ command to preach and make disciples, why would Jehovah promise to drive them away? (Ezek. 33:7-9; Matt. 28:19, 20) Clearly, Jehovah is driving away, not his faithful servants, but something or someone who is hostile to his people.]
Below shows they already knew what they are trying to claim as a new teaching above about the locusts.
[w07 10/1 - Invasion by the caterpillar, the locust, and the cockroach is what Joel sees in vision. The invaders are referred to as “a people numerous and mighty” and as “powerful men.” (Joel 1:4; 2:2-7) “Alas for the day,” sighs Joel, “because the day of Jehovah is near, and like a despoiling from the Almighty One it will come!” (Joel 1:15) Jehovah counsels the inhabitants of Zion: “Come back to me with all your hearts.” If they do, Jehovah will “show compassion upon his people” and will put far away “the northerner”—the insect assault. Before the coming of his great day, though, Jehovah will “pour out [his] spirit on every sort of flesh” and will “give portents in the heavens and on the earth.”—Joel 2:12, 18-20, 28-31.]
[Insight - The prophet Joel foretold a devastating onslaught by a horde of insects that would desolate the land, mentioning the cha·silʹ last, as the insect that consumes whatever has been left behind by the others. (Joe 1:4) Later, the prophet tells of the time when there will be blessings and forgiveness. The invader will be turned back and compensation made for what the cha·silʹ and the other members of God’s “great military force” have eaten. (Joe 2:25)]