Here is the timeline that appears in the article of WT July 15, 2013, "Look! I am with you ALL the days."
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130715/jesus-parable-wheat-and-weeds/
My husband and I visited for this WT study on September 8. We are bible students gone bad (decided not to join, but they don't shun us).
The man at the podium kept referring back to this timeline... again and again... clearly it was scripted, along with a few of his strange remarks.
He helped interpret the images. There are 2 figures depicted. Jesus is the Sower ("notice he is WHITE and STANDING UPRIGHT"). The Devil is the Enemy ("Notice this other SNEAKY GUY... he is BLACK and STOOPED OVER")
Comments from the audience (elder's wife, who claimed to have knowledge of wheat farming in particular) were enlightening. Apparently, there is a particular type of weed that grows among wheat. "When you look out over a wheat field, the weeds are very easy to see. The wheat bends with the wind, but the weeds stand stiff and upright."
Another comment from the audience (another woman): "We can see evidence of this in our modern day society. "Imitation Christians" stand upright and do not bend, but JW's are flexible and able to bend when things change." (convenient, since the wind was shifting dramatically that day!)
These comments were made in response to the question:
13. What does Revelation 18:7 reveal about the present attitude of the harlot, or Babylon the Great, including Christendom?
13 Third, weeping and gnashing. After the angels bundle the weeds, what happens? Speaking about the condition of the weed class, Jesus states: “There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.” ( Matt. 13:42 ) Is that happening right now? No. Today, Christendom, as part of the harlot, still says about herself: “I sit a queen, and I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.” ( Rev. 18:7 ) Indeed, Christendom feels very much in charge, even presuming to ‘sit as a queen’ atop the class of political leaders. Presently, those represented by the weeds are boasting, not weeping. But that is about to change.
7 To the extent that she glorified herself and lived in shameless luxury, to that extent give her torment and mourning. For she keeps saying in her heart: ‘I sit as queen, and I am not a widow, and I will never see mourning.’
(Just my 2 cents, but I've observed a lot of modern day JW's glorifying themselves and making claims about eternity for themselves)
To summarize... "DID YOU GET THE POINT??"
Interpretation from the podium ("Please refer back to the timeline"):
- Jesus = standing tall and upright
- The Devil = stooped over
Additional interpretation from the audience (comments that were congratulated by the man at podium):
- Weeds = stooped over
- Wheat = standing tall and upright
THE POINT: "Bend over! You are Wheat!" (which could mean:)
- The wind is shifting, be ready to adjust yourself again.
- Be ready to bend yourself in new ways. Instructions to follow. (grooming them)
- If you are a faithful JW, congratulate yourself every time you bend with the breeze. Your abilitiy to adapt proves that you are Wheat.
Many of the comments and remarks that were inserted by the conductor of the WT study, seemed scripted and sometimes awkward. He made a few strange hand gestures that didn't really fit, and the timing of some of his remarks was odd. I grew more and more suspicious as we kept listening to the comments being made, both from the podium and the same few people who kept raising their hands.
I have come to believe that there is a lot more to these comments and remarks, than meets the eye. I think this explains why so many JW's seem to be confused about what they actually believe. They often can't find the answers in their literature, because the ideas and "understanding" was planted verbally. This is why meeting attendance and theocratic work are so vital to your spiritual health.
Not only are you unable to understand the Bible without the aid of the Watchtower commentary, you are unable to understand the Watchtower, without the aid of instructions administered to you at the meetings.