JACOB PRASCH MORIEL MINISTRIES: THE TEN AND THE FORTY

Moriel Scotland Conference - Jacob Prasch - Session 3, Day 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDxV2PCDIGk

Prasch introduces his teaching on "the ten and the forty" towards the very end of this session at approximately 52 minutes. After explaining how the Counting the Omer of Leviticus 23:15–16 is also applicable to the period between the resurrection and Pentecost, Prasch goes on to falsely apply the Omer eschatologically to the end of the age.

Prasch: "Eschatologically however the same thing happens at the end of the age.. there will be a bride in travail - there will be another harvest of Israel - all Israel will be saved.. These things will happen again. At the end of the seven weeks there was a ten day period between the ascension and Pentecost that was very very difficult for the apostles and the believers, the hundred and twenty.." (55:45) ..Remember the ten is always from Satan." (57:25)

The contention that the ten day period between the ascension and Pentecost was "very very difficult" for the apostles and believers is completely unfounded. A simple review of Acts 1 shows the very opposite to be the case:

On the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection, the apostles received the Holy Spirit: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:19-22). During the forty day period before his ascension, Jesus taught them and gave them many convincing proofs, speaking things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3). After Jesus' ascension, during the ten days before Pentecost, the believers were praying together and planning ahead: They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14). Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. (Acts 1:15-26). The number ten, in this instance, is a picture of faith and confidence as the believers waited for the Holy Spirit and their future mission as His witnesses. (Acts 1:8). Where are Prasch's "difficulties", and what has any of this got to do with Satan? Neither the number ten or forty are applicable to Prasch's warped eschatology!

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:1-3).

We need to question why Prasch teaches such a thing, or rather several things, that are the diametric opposite of the scriptures, things that completely misrepresent the events that will take place at the end of the age.

Referring to the ten days in between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost as "that point", Prasch continues: "It was at that point they finally realised who the son of perdition was.."

There is no evidence to suggest that the disciples realised who the son of perdition was during the ten days prior to Pentecost. Actually, there is every indication that the disciples knew exactly who the son of perdition was on the first day, on the Emmaus Road, and not during this ten day period. Jesus revealed that Judas Iscariot would betray him at the last supper. (John 13:21-26). After betraying him, Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5). It seems extremely likely that the disciples would be aware of these events.

On the Emmaus Road - the same day as the Resurrection: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27).

Peter reviews the events concerning Judas Iscariot after Jesus' ascension. This review precedes the proposal to choose Judas Iscariot's replacement. (Acts 1:20-26).

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Acts 1:16-17).

Prasch: "At the end of the age it will be the same. At this point we will realise who the Antichrist is..."

If Prasch's supposed eschatological Omer is equivalent to the tribulation as he teaches, then the revelation of the Antichrist "at this point" is unsound. The scriptures tell us very clearly that the Antichrist will be revealed at the mid point of Daniel's 70th week i.e. immediately prior to the tribulation. (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

Prasch: Now it has its equivalent in the ?, the Ten Days of Awe in between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur, a ten day period.. ten is always Satan.

This is an extraordinary piece of misinformation in light of the Jewish explanation of the Ten Days of Awe:

"The ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, or the Ten Days of Repentance (more accurately translated as the Ten Days of Return). When the prophet Isaiah tells the Jewish nation to repent for their sins, he says, “Seek G‑d when He may be found; call Him when He is close.”1 When is that? The sages say that this verse refers to these ten days, when G‑d is especially close to us." {1}

Prasch also teaches inaccurately about the ten and the forty on his website:

Prasch: “Forty is the number of testing when the test comes from God. Ten is the number of testing when it is not from God. God may allow it for His purpose. In Daniel’s day Israel was tested at the hands of the Babylonians. In Smyrna believers in Jesus were tested at the hands of the Romans and the Pagans. When the test comes NOT from God, the number is ten.” {2}

There are a number of instances that the number forty, not necessarily days, is associated with testing in the scriptures. However, we cannot apply it in this instance. In this context, the appearances of Jesus to the disciples for forty days after the resurrection was a period of instruction and preparation: (Acts 1:1-3). Its counterpart can be found on Mount Sinai when Moses received the commandments for forty days and nights. (Exodus 24:18; 34:28).

Prasch has based his tenuous argument for “the ten and the forty” on one short excerpt of scripture from Daniel 1. He has previously linked the ten days tribulation in Smyrna with Daniel 1:8-16, specifically, verses 12 and 14, where the period of ten days is repeated three times.

Prasch: “Then there is this period of ten days. It says it four times. Explicitly three times, and then it refers to it as ‘the end of the days’ the fourth time..... Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. (At the end of the ten days.)”

The phrase: “the end of ten days” appears once in verse 15, and “ten days” appears twice in verses 12 and 14. Prasch's assumption that the phrase “the end of the days” in Daniel 1:18 relates specifically to the end of the ten days is false. Verse 18 does not refer to the end of the literal ten days at all; in fact it refers to the end of the three year period specified by Nebuchadnezzar, see Daniel 1:5. The omission of the word “ten” in verse 18 is inserted by Prasch in order to fit in with his “end of the (ten) days” tribulation theory.

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 1:8-18).

There are several problems associated with Prasch’s eisegesis of “the ten and the forty” and the meaning of “ten days” in biblical typology. He makes the assumption that we always read Daniel in light of Revelation. This is true of the prophetic material found in Daniel, but the context of Daniel 1 is historical and not prophetic. Furthermore the context of Daniel 1 does not match Revelation in the sense that Prasch teaches. The ten days that Daniel and his companions were tested was not a period of tribulation, much less the terrors of the persecution that took place in Smyrna. Although they had been taken into captivity, God gave Daniel favour and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs. (Daniel 1:9). Christ tells the believers in Smyrna “be faithful to death..” - this was not the case with Daniel who invited the test (v 12). The ten days that the Christians in Smyrna were to be tested was, in my view, a literal ten days, whereas the great tribulation goes on for 3.5 years (cut short). (Matthew 24:22).

When we come across the words test, trial and tribulation, we do need to look at the context. A test, peirazó, is to test or to tempt, whereas tribulation, usually, but not always, goes a stage further, thlipsis in this case. Revelation 2 uses both words in relation to Smyrna. Daniel 1 (Hebrew nasah) has the same meaning as peirazó prove, tempt, try. The word “test” (nasah) in Daniel 1:12 is frequently used of God in relation to men, as in Genesis 22:1. God did prove Abraham.

Apart from Daniel 1, ten days are specifically mentioned in the scriptures in Nehemiah 5:18, Genesis 24:55; Jeremiah 42:7. Ten relates to God’s authority over human government and law, as in Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; 1 Kings 11:31-35; Ruth 4:2). Ten also represents human government under the influence of Satan e.g. the ten toes of iron and clay (Daniel 2:42), and the beast with ten horns (Revelation 10:24; 13:1 17:12). “Ten is viewed as a complete and perfect number, as is 3, 7 and 12. It is made up of 4, the number of the physical creation, the number of man. As such, it signifies testimony, law, responsibility and the completeness of order.” {3} Daniel 1 actually fits into the ten day paradigm perfectly. Nebuchadnezzar, a type of the Antichrist, seeks to impose his unrighteous will upon the faithful believers who are his captives. However, Daniel and his companions prove the government of God over the government under the influence of Satan over a period of ten days, and indeed ultimately. The king’s "choice food" is unfit for consumption by the people of God.. there is much symbolism here, but tribulation is excluded.

Prasch: He first going to try to destroy the church? Do you understand?"

The Antichrist will go after Israel (the woman) first before he turns his attention towards the church:

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel) which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13-17).

Prasch's false eschatology identifies the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 as the Holy Spirit. This is a further case of blatant eisegesis! The scriptures do not identify the Restrainer at all! It was false teacher John Nelson Darby who originally identified the Restrainer as the Holy Spirit. This dubious assumption concerning the identity of the Restrainer forms part of pre-trib eschatology to this day. 

Prasch not only deprives the world of the Holy Spirit for the entire seven year period of Daniel's 70th week, he now begins to deny the Holy Spirit's presence among believers during the tribulation! On two separate occasions Prasch teaches that the presence of the Holy Spirit will diminish among believers as we proceed into his fictional Omer.

Moriel Scottish Conference 2018 - Jacob Prasch - Gartmore - 3 Nov 2018:
Session 4 - Saturday 3rd November 2018

Prasch: "The presence of the Lord in the churches is going to become more scarce as we proceed into the Omer." (33:00) 

Prasch: The same thing happens again. At the end there will be no church, there will only be individual believers, disunited with no power, standing in hope of the return of Christ. As Jesus went and sent the Spirit, the Holy Spirit goes, not from our hearts, but from restraining in the world, and sends Jesus.. There is a gap period, a ten day period it has its equivalence in the Oran? for Israel and the Jews in the Days of Awe. This is the Omer. The Omer shows us what it is going to be like at the end of the age..... Secondly, there will be a very serious testing of faith.. His presence will be more and more withdrawn, although he is not gone yet. (1:05).

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20).

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 cf. 2 Corinthians 11:4; John 10:10). 

Prasch's denial of the presence of the Holy Spirit eschatologically is nothing less than blatant heresy!!!

As mentioned in my previous post, Prasch brazenly switches the Emmaus Road events to the day after the resurrection. The fictional "second day of the Omer", is Prasch's pièce de résistance as far as deception goes. {4}

Prasch’s phony eschatology and his scripture twisting is beyond ridiculous. Not only is it beyond ridiculous, it is extremely dangerous for those who are foolish enough to take it on board. I am astonished that the men who share a platform with Prasch have not corrected him scripturally. Surely they cannot be unaware of the problems, not only with his heretical denial of the presence of the Holy Spirit eschatologically, but also the vile behaviour exhibited by his vicious attack upon David Nathan and others. Their silence makes these men culpable. I have recently asked Bill Randles for his thoughts on Prasch's intra-seal theory and his more recent false teaching in Scotland.

{1} https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1620809/jewish/The-Ten-Days-of-Repentance-The-Aseret-Yemay-Teshuvah.htm
{2} https://www.moriel.org/online-sermons/23-sermons-in-english/5920-when-god-speaks.html
https://youtu.be/DIyCfAs7Li0
{3} http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/10.html
{4} https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2018/11/jacob-prasch-moriel-ministries-counting.html

DEBORAH MENELAWS' UNOFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE MORIEL LETTER

Bethel Communications on November 29, 2018 at 5:09 pm said: 

Deborah Menelaws’ unofficial response to the Moriel letter:

Btw: Global Vision TV did NOT edit the clip shown from Bill Randles church and he admits it himself. It was a short clip showing David Nathan agreeing to what Bill Randles had just said. Another ministry did a response showing this at : https://vimeo.com/302448589
Sorry. I’ve been forced to share this YET again. Please read to the end if you haven’t already.
We have been overwhelmed by the precious messages and emails that have been arriving over the last few weeks – but some poor souls still don’t understand.
So here is a little background again as to what is involved in making films, so let’s look at The Daniel Project first. I’ll write it slowly so that EVERYBODY can follow along. God Bless.

::MAKING A DOCUMENTARY::
Yes, we sign over the rights to a distributor – because THAT’S their job – to get it in front of as many millions of people as possible. Yes, they own the rights for a certain number of years and that’s how it works in professional TV and Cinema production.

We made TDP as a follow-up to the first Biblical doc we made in the mid 90s which was for Christians. That one was made by our ministry and was only semi professional because we had no money, but it’s still my favourite!
Dave Hunt, Roger Oakland, Chuck Missler, Gary Kah and many, many more gave interviews without pay – none of us ever got paid – we were looking to see souls saved – and so we did, all glory to God. Not only that, but it revived an interest in the end times, and other ministries flowed out of that.

Then, nearly 2 decades later, we made the follow up called The Daniel Project, but this time it was for the UNSAVED. Our vision was to share the Gospel of The Kingdom with the world, to warn of the coming judgement in the hope that some would turn to Jesus.

The only way to reach these folks was via television – terrestrial and cable etc, so we had to use our professional production company to make it this time. Therefore it cost all we had – and more.
We had 10 contributing experts including Jacob Prasch (who wrongly claims to be the narrator / presenter and also wrongly claims it was written around his premise – it is a follow on from Cup of Trembling as my friends already know. Jeremy Hitchin was the narrator / presenter, and he was paid because that’s his job) all of whom signed a Release form which was required for the lawyers on both sides of the Atlantic for E&O insurances, licences, classification, royalty agreements etc. etc etc. A never ending list of costs.

It is a strict rule, that any professional documentary does not pay its contributors, to avoid accusations of tampering with their evidence as each basically serves as an expert witness in their subject.
That is made clear to each person who signs the Release. For ANYBODY to claim they didn’t know it was being made for TV ie for commercial broadcast, they are either deluded or lying – especially when they make that statement 8 years after it was first released!

We not only paid for it all out our own pockets (having sold everything we could to make it) without asking for a penny from anybody, we also handed it over to be distributed, thus not MAKING millions either – because that’s NOT why it was made.
It was made to reach as many people as possible… and we have hundreds of the most amazing testimonies. From the jungle to the bush to the desert, churches to house groups and individuals, God has done amazing things through The Daniel Project – and continues to do so.
Praise His wonderful Name!

We were allowed to keep the rights for a Director’s cut DVD version to be sold to Christian groups (any other versions belong to the distributor – but ours has ‘extras’ on it) for the excuse of recouping costs, but more specifically for us, we were able to put The Way of Escape on it!
However no reputable ministry will handle it now because Jacob Prasch is on it, which is very disappointing to us. Berean Call were the last people to pull out – much as they loved it.

We spent a further £13k in 2012/13 to have a Hispanic / Brazilian Portuguese version made for evangelism in South America having been told by Jacob Prasch that Marco Quintana would use it as that was his area of expertise. We had it made in little cardboard envelopes to make them as affordable as possible and easier to carry.
Nothing. Nada. No response from Moriel.

We did however gift many hundred of pounds worth of DVDs to Jacob and Moriel as a thank you and they also purchased some from us for resale which would also boost their funds. The one proviso from the distributor being that they were either to be (1) given away free or (2) a set minimum charge was to be made.

We paid a similar amount again to also have English subtitles added for the hard of hearing. Again, we had to work hard to raise the money to do that but it was worth it to help get the truth out to more and more people.

::SHOW US THE MONEY::
The big difference is this. And this is what I cannot get my head around when Moriel make statements that I’m a profiteer for example! It’s beyond astonishing – and may God be my witness here! It is because of that accusation that somebody contacted me to go into deeper detail.

Stewart and I work extremely hard to make money to pay for each ministry project we produce and to pay the costs for Gv247 etc which is a completely free service to the public and costs us thousands every year.
We don’t rely on other people to fund anything (although donations are very gratefully received as we get older and are slowing down!) However, any donations we do receive are not to pay our bills or buy food, but to enable us to produce the ministry work we do. I work separately to pay for certain domestic bills and I drive a 10 year old car. Stewart does the same, making commercials and corporate films and turning away more than he makes if it is anything against our Biblical beliefs.
That’s nobody’s business but I only state it here because the contrast with Moriel Ministries is colossal.

Jacob does not work outside his ministry – and if I am wrong and he proves to me that he does, then unlike him, I will be very quick to apologise. And it will be sincere. Or will he claim that it’s in a tax free Channel Island haven?
Moriel has taken a huge amount in donations over the last few years – I’ve been told it is $millions though I haven’t fully checked because [a] I don’t have the time and [b] I quite frankly don’t want to – although the records are there FOR public scrutiny as unlike us, they are a 501(c )(3) in the US** and a registered charity in the UK*** .

However, what I have been shown is that both Jacob and David Lister have not gone short financially. They could well have afforded to help us get The Daniel Project into even more places worldwide.
But they didn’t.
Even though it certainly made Jacob better known than he was before we made it.

God knows – and He is in charge of it all.

It’s our HEARTS that God is concerned with, not the outer, but remember, we knew Jacob for over 20 years, he stayed with us often and we worked and travelled with him, so we know him well. I remember Jacob telling me how much he enjoys “la dolce vita” – and there’s nothing wrong with that I suppose. Fine dining, the theatre, good single malts and so on. So we also tried to look after him well and to bless him when we could. I thought we were at least ‘friends’ in some way after all that time.

They won’t rest until they destroy us apparently.
For what?
Oh yes, Jacob did warn me.
For interviewing David Nathan.

That is why we have been fairly quiet – being prayed for and seeking The Lord as we worked through this unbelievable sewage – until we could come to the place where it truly doesn’t matter and we can let it go – to love our enemy and bless those who curse us.

It also means NOT being part of the occult – the hidden things, the sins we all covered with love because hey – don’t we just do that as believers? How much it pleases our Heavenly Father when we dwell together in unity…

But now, many people around the world have been praying that God would shine His light and expose their darkness and it is certainly happening…

For here’s the thing.
Jacob was forever asking us about the money, if we’d recovered our costs for making TDP and lately, on his videos and emails, he has gone on and on and on and on about having done it for free, gratis etc.
Well you know what?
So did we.
And we worked thousands of hours longer than Jacob ever did to get that film made. 5 years it took from beginning to end.
Without pay.

And now this ludicrous request published all over the internet requesting us to remove Jacob from The Daniel Project?
Seriously???

My husband took advice and and the official statement was issued – see further down this page, and we have received so many beautiful and supportive emails and messages from brethren, including pastors and other leaders all over the world, even from many we don’t know, sending scriptures, praying and uplifting us during this time. Many are asking questions – questions that they have the right to ask because they have shared The Daniel Project in many ways.

THAT is why I have had to respond.

It is to those people I address this – not to the gossip mongers or those with an opinion they believe must be heard. None of this is up for debate. It is simply a series of facts and if you want to know more, the website is http://www.thedanielproject.tv
which has lots of information. There are also several episodes on the subject on The Weekend Show on Global Vision TV starting at Episode 8. (at http://www.gv247.tv
).

::The Daniel CONNECTION::
And finally… The Daniel CONNECTION was a feature film made for the exact same reason – but this time for unsaved people who would never watch a documentary. We are strongly opposed to conspiracy theories so this is based on The Daniel Project prophecies and many copies are given away free when people watch the movie version. Again, we’ve never recovered the costs – never mind make a profit – and we don’t expect to – as long as it does the job it was sent forth to do. At its Scottish premiere – people thoroughly enjoyed it and many said it would encourage them to find out more, (you can see the reviews on the website) and one person was saved at the English premiere organised by a local church.
Further info is on the website at http://www.thedanielconnection.tv
and on The Weekend Show on Global Vision TV from Episode 12 at http://www.gv247.tv

Our love, prayers and thanks go to all of you who have prayed for and used The Daniel Project over the years. We love to hear your testimonies so please do contact us privately and share if you haven’t already.
All glory to God – every tiny victory gained through this film – He gets the glory.
For He alone is worthy.
Amen.
========
*and Global Vision TV – subscribers to the network have almost doubled over the last few weeks and we’ve a few more on the YouTube channel too!
Please feel free to share this widely as I haven’t had the chance to thank everybody personally so I have made this public.
::MORIEL FINANCES::
We have not looked at this in detail but in case you want to check as I may have been given a wrong quote from an ex Moriel staff member, which I apologise for in advance if I have made a mistake.:
https://www.erieri.com/Form990Finder/Details/Index?EIN=980175401&fbclid=IwAR3v3he6JRU_F6Xj5rQoz2vAOsdZ447x3Tont3OwHZCaUSB9-9Q_APNq-5g

In the UK http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1119363&SubsidiaryNumber=0&fbclid=IwAR2RJQ5yXb88cdy4LYcsDjJ5St2QF1XiVGI8xhntHLgijbdTxXCGavMpZqw

Bethel Communications on November 29, 2018 at 3:29 pm said:

Moriel’s admission on their website (now removed funnily enough) they always knew it was a secular production:
‘The Daniel Project’ is a secular film production with a scriptural message, focus, and theme, which can reach non-believers in the postmodern world. A companion book will be published soon but the producers have brought out a special edition DVD set which is an effective tool for house groups, church groups and in one to one dialogue…. Remember, this is a secular product and a secular production, which takes the message into the secular world via the secular market.
We would urge all who seek the salvation of the lost and who look to the return of Jesus to obtain a copy of the DVD and the book.

Bethel Communications on November 29, 2018 at 3:26 pm said:

Studio Scotland’s official response to Moriel:
FAO: Mr David Lister
Moriel Ministries USA
Moriel Missions UK
Date: 7th November 2018

I always make myself available to meet and discuss challenges that life can bring, particularly where conflict may arise and yesterday I replied to a disparaging email from Jacob Prasch with the intent to see if we could meet to discuss recent events – his response was both unhelpful and shameful. To that end I have been counselled to keep my reply to your organisation only to the subject of the production questions raised.

The following information is given in accordance with PACT industry regulations during the period 2006-2010 covering documentary production and distribution.

::The Daniel Project television documentary::

Mr Prasch was one of 10 participants to be interviewed who claimed a specific knowledge on related subject matter. In accordance with regulations governing the use of interviews within a documentary format for terrestrial television, interviews must be conducted with no payment so as to confirm a non-bias agenda (expenses only are normally covered unless waived).

Payment may only be made to professional presenters or voice-over artists in accordance with the type of contract agreed in writing. Presenters are not deemed expert witnesses but merely actors. Every professional documentary or film project is subject to very strict rules and under no circumstances would a film be acquired by any distributor or broadcaster if the substantial paperwork necessary was incomplete.

After stringent legal processes, productions are acquired by a distributor(s) (they are not sold by the production company) whereby the producers (Studio Scotland Ltd) must sign away all rights but are still liable for all broadcast compliance files, insurance, lawyers, clearance, classification, translation and marketing costs. This is standard procedure. The distributor is the one who leases the production to a broadcaster for a fixed term and agreed rate which we may eventually see a proportion of once all their costs are covered. This can take several years because the remuneration is small and the distributors have to cover the cost of their stand and associated expenses to travel to a film market or festival in order to ‘sell’ our particular film – amongst the thousands of others that are also vying for attention.

Mr Prasch signed a full release contract form in accordance with ‘The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television’ broadcast standards, a copy of which, if requested may only be sent to Mr Prasch at his personal request or a legal body acting on his behalf. If Mr Prasch would like to receive a copy of said document please ask him to send an SAE to our studio with a signed covering letter. This will be dealt with promptly.

The signed contract is with Mr Prasch and not any bodies or groups he is a part of. By law we cannot divulge personal contractual information to a third party. Removal from commercial films is not possible. Studio Scotland has no rights over both productions. This is standard practice.

::In regard to Mr Prasch’s request to share his beliefs within an evangelistic format::

Proselytisation within a TV documentary format will be rejected under European broadcast standards, however, in keeping with this request, this was made possible by Studio Scotland via an ‘extras’ section available on an approved DVD and on free digital download for The Daniel Project. The distributor at that time ‘Mercury Media International Ltd’ gave approval (not usual for a distributor) in allowing many churches, and faith based organisations all over the world to use the film as an outreach tool as long as no payments were made – hundreds of showings in churches, halls, hotels, prisons, army camps and universities were granted free licenses. We have a substantial file of emails from churches, pastors, educators and individuals around the world, who have been positively impacted by watching or showing the production. There is also a tiny selection of many hundreds of reviews listed on the official website.

The production was translated to Brazilian Portuguese and Hispanic Spanish for use across South America – and could also be understood by Europeans who didn’t understand English – and we also provided English Subtitles for Hard of Hearing. All of that at a cost of many thousands of dollars. Controversial TV documentaries have strict translation guidelines and must be passed once again through the legal, insurance and certification system. Like everything else, this was financed solely by Studio Scotland. We have not recovered the costs for doing this.

With a legally cleared South American DVD master, we have since been able to supply various ministries reaching out to those communities with 100s of DVDs in card folders at the cost of physical production and delivery. Hundreds if not thousands of DVDs have been given away free of charge and our production / mastering house near London has a record of every DVD produced. This is a requirement in regard to library footage licencing as The Daniel Project has over 100 library licences which we must adhere to as another legal requirement.

::The Daniel CONNECTION feature film::

The Daniel CONNECTION feature film was made for those who would not watch a documentary and has the same aims as The Daniel Project. It has a different distributor, rules and regulations, Studio Scotland Ltd are still thousands of dollars in debt to the distributor and that is before payments can be made to recover costs for production. This is standard for the industry and is clearly understood by professionals within the media. All actors are paid during production in accordance with their agency contracts along with point system benefits after full recovery costs for those eligible. This is a standard practice for cinematic production.

::Commercial gain?::

Three international broadcasters/distributors and an international DVD distributor (servicing supermarkets and book stores worldwide) asked us to re-edit the documentary and in some cases to incorporate other spiritual beliefs to be more in-line with their broadcast policies, which in turn would have enabled Mercury Media and Studio Scotland to gain financially. We refused and those broadcasters/distribution outlets rejected The Daniel Project. We believed it to be important to remain true to the original format and to have integrity in all our dealings.

::In Summary::

Based on an original cable TV /Video resource produced by Stewart and Deborah Menelaws, ‘Cup of Trembling- countdown to Armageddon’ in 1996, ‘The Daniel Project’ was without doubt, one of the most ground breaking terrestrial TV documentaries of its time, working within the strict confines imposed on production covering faith based subjects. As a secular project within a secular environment it has touched the lives of millions via a wide range of networks world-wide.

Tragically, in recent years, a number of Christian based distribution outlets regretfully will no longer stock ‘The Daniel Project’ DVD – and it is Mr Prasch’s behaviour and conduct that has been cited as the issue. Sales of the actual DVD are almost non-existent. The documentary itself is currently showing on Amazon Prime TV and was acquired by the multi award winning documentary distributor ‘Journeyman Pictures’’. All distribution rights belong to them (they acquired Mercury Media resources who went into liquidation owing us royalties). The film continues to touch lives on secular media – and that is who and what it was made for.

::Mr Prasch appearing / removal on faith based media::

In regard to Mr Prasch appearing on our free to view subsidiary Global Vision TV at GV247.TV which is a non-profit part of the company but is required to be connected due to licensing contracts with interviews, film, video and imagery, we had already taken steps to remove Mr Prasch. We are still in the process of clearing his image from various files and whilst this will take time, please be assured, we have made that a priority.

Sincerely: Stewart Menelaws
Managing Director
Studio Scotland Ltd

DAVE MACPHERSON IS WITH THE LORD

I am very sad to report that author Dave MacPherson went to be with the Lord on the 7th of November.

Dave was an excellent researcher and devoted his life to opposing the pre-trib rapture and the deceivers that promote it. His book 'The Rapture Plot' is probably his best known work.

Dave befriended me a few years ago, and although we never met in person, we communicated via email. He was kind enough to take an interest in both my work as a researcher/writer and also my life. He often honoured me by asking me to post his articles on my blog. Dave's articles will remain up indefinitely as they are very relevant in today's climate of spiritual deception and superficial Christianity.

Please pray that Dave's material will continue to be promoted as it is very much needed in these times.

JACOB PRASCH MORIEL MINISTRIES: COUNTING THE OMER

Moriel Scottish Conference 2018 - Jacob Prasch - Gartmore - 3 Nov 2018:
Session 4 - Saturday 3rd November 2018

Working while we still have the light {1}

Prasch's recent session on Counting the Omer is yet another one of his novel teachings. He refers to the Emmaus Road events in Luke 24 as taking place on the second day of the Omer a number of times, specifically at 13:20-16:30 and 34:50 minutes into the video, even writing it on his white board. If we simply read the scriptures for ourselves we can very easily ascertain that Prasch is inaccurate.

The Counting of the Omer (Hebrew: ספירת העומר, Sefirat HaOmer) begins on the second day, each evening after sundown, between sundown and midnight. The scriptures confirm that the Emmaus Road events happened on the first day of the week i.e. the day of the resurrection (Luke 24:1), not the second day: "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem." (Luke 24:13). As they approached their destination they strongly urged Jesus: “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” (Luke 24:28-29). Gill surmised that it was around four or five o'clock in the afternoon. {2}

It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.… (John 20:18).

Again, the first day is emphasised in the scriptures! A Jewish day goes from nightfall to nightfall. Specific mention of the first day from the Jewish writer of John confirms that it was not yet nightfall:

According to Matthew Poole's Commentary: "Luke expounds this verse, Luke 24:29, where the two disciples told Christ it was towards evening, and the day was far spent; for the Jews called the afternoon evening, as well as the time after sunset; and John tells us expressly, it was yet the first day of the week. This appearance is unquestionably the same mentioned in Luke, Luke 24:36." {3}

Prasch proceeds to place Jesus' revelation to doubting Thomas on the seventh day. (18:00 minutes). However, the scriptures tell us that it was eight days later i.e. eight days after the first day. (John 20:26).

Prasch's white board

Prasch shifts the Emmaus Road events to the second day of the Omer because it is crucial to his argument, or rather, his false eschatological concoction, linking the Counting of the Omer to the tribulation. As a supposed expert on Judaism, I do not believe it is possible that Prasch has made a simple error!

Prasch: "The presence of the Lord in the churches is going to become more scarce as we proceed into the Omer." (33:00 minutes)  WHAT!!! (2 Corinthians 11:4; John 10:10).

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20).

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

Precisely what "darkness" is Prasch referring to in the following statement?

"During the Omer they were in a transitional state.. He had not left them yet, the darkness had not come, but he was not around as much day to day as he had been. He shows up ten times on special events on certain days of the Omer.." (33:05 minutes).

There was no darkness after Jesus' resurrection:

14Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]] (Mark 16: 14-20).

Prasch's proposal that Jesus' disciples did not recognise him because they did not know prophecy is grossly inadequate. Prasch: "They were not into the scripture comprehensively as a whole divine revelation and literary unit and they were ignoring prophecy. As a result they couldn't recognise him. .. this will be the state of the church during the coming Omer…" (27:00 minutes)

Prasch puts all the emphasis on the disciples ignorance of prophecy, but the scriptures also say: But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:16).

The Greek: but their eyes were prevented (ἐκρατοῦντο) from recognising him.
εκρατουντο verb - imperfect passive indicative - third person
Strong's 2902: to be strong, rule {4}

"Mary of Magdala did not recognise Him (John 20:14), nor the disciples on the Lake (John 21:4). The same thing is evidently implied in Luke 24:37 and in Matthew 28:17; and it exactly accords with the clear indications that the Resurrection Body of our Lord was a Glorified Body of which the conditions transcended those of ordinary mortality. It is emphasized in Mark 16:12, where we are told that He was manifested in a different form from that which He had worn before." {5}
"The antithesis is in Luke 24:31, διηνοίχθησαν, their eyes were opened." {5}

Prasch: "The state of the way things were in Emmaus is the way it is going to be towards the end of the age... they will need a real quick crash course. This will take place during the Omer...."

Are there any valid comparisons between the Omer and the tribulation?

The tribulation lasts for 3.5 years/1260 days (cut short) and so we cannot compare the two in numerical terms.

Prasch refers to "despondency and disappointment" during the "future Omer" (supposedly the tribulation). There was no despondency or disappointment during the Counting of the Omer either in the Old Testament or in the New Testament. The Feast of Firstfruits: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (Leviticus 23:14).

The Omer has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ - the firstfruits. (1 Corinthians 15:23). Gill: "It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; until the Messiah came, who is the substance of these shadows.." {6}

The Omer counts the forty-nine days between the Passover and Shavuot (Leviticus 23:15–16).The Counting of the Omer begins on the second day, not on the first day. In the Old Testament, an omer i.e. a measure of grain, was offered in the Temple on the second day of Passover (Pesach).

Pentecost is literally 50 days from the resurrection, coinciding with the day after Pesach, the day of the wave offering. The disciples disappointment and despondency was dispelled on the first day, the day of Jesus' resurrection. (Mark 16:10).

During the tribulation there will not be despondency and disappointment. For many who are unprepared there will be anger and outright rebellion... many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. (Matthew 24:10). The mark of the beast will be implemented at some point, after which people will not be able to buy or sell. (Revelation 13:17). I think it will be too late for a "crash course" in bible prophecy. Believers will suffer terrible persecution and be put to death. (Matthew 24:9). After the Antichrist is revealed at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel, things will change for the worse very quickly! (Matthew 24:9; Revelation 12:12). The bible talks about it being too late for the foolish virgins with no oil. (Matthew 25:1-13). None of these events prophesied by Jesus Himself fits into an Omer scenario!

WORK or WALK?

Moriel Scottish Conference title: Work while you have the light... "for night is coming when no one can work." The verse: "WALK while you have the light.." (John 12:35).

So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk (περιπατέω) while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. (John 12:35).

περιπατέω = I walk, hence Hebraistically (in an ethical sense): I conduct my life, live.

Half of verse John 9:4 - "for night is coming when no one can work." . John 9:4. The "works" Jesus refers to are his miracles? i.e. the miracle of healing the man born blind:

1As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:1-6 cf. John 4:34).

This is what we are up against with Prasch... he cleverly replaces just one word scripture and tags on half a verse - he then integrates it into his demonic end time teaching! 

I do appeal once again to Prasch's followers to be Bereans for their own sakes. (Acts 17:11).

For basic information about Counting the Omer, Wikipedia is a good site:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_of_the_Omer

{1} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVQHLiFznxk&t=1485s
{2} https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/luke/24.htm
{3} https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/20-19.htm
{4} https://biblehub.com/greek/2902.htm
{5} https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/24.htm
{6} https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/leviticus/23.htm

THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM BY CLOSING STAGES

Reposted from Closing Stages: https://closingstages.net/2018/11/12/the-biggest-elephant-in-the-room/

“Correcting his opponents with gentleness.  God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:25

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 8:12

"Having been in the UK for less than 24 hours. I have spoken to some pastors who have been threatened by Jacob Prasch if they meet with me or have me speak at their churches. This relentless and spurious attack against myself and those who refuse to side with Moriel has driven me to cancel my trip and return to South Africa on Wednesday.

I sincerely apologize for letting folk down but I can no longer minister under this cloud of accusation and threats against people that I dearly love and care about. I refuse to respond in the flesh and seeing that Jacob refuses to meet to try resolve his issues with me, I am left with no other choice than to step away for the sake of peace in the Body and healing for those who have been deeply hurt by this ungodly and wicked business. Until the Lord brings resolution to this whole debacle, I am choosing to step away from ministering outside my local church.

I do hope that reasonable folk are able to understand my position. Perhaps one day should the Lord choose to vindicate me, I will return to the UK.

Until then, may the Lord bless His Church and cause her to grow into the image of Him who loved us and died for our transgressions.” – David Nathan (1)

Jacob Prasch may have initially pointed out valid errors in David Nathan’s teaching but he has continually ignored Nathans willingness and appeal to correction and reconciliation. Now the sheep are left to contend with two erring brothers/leaders and try to sort through this mess. Tragically, Jacob Prasch won’t let it go and apparently has an agenda of destroying David Nathan.  All the while ignoring David Nathan’s appeals and openness to correction and reconciliation.

Jacob/Moriel continually persists in putting out letters and videos addressing David Nathan’s error etc.. (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

David has continually in all his public addresses of these issue’s, asked for reconciliation and was open to correction ALWAYS. (8) (9)

 Jacob Prasch says  “Philippians 1:9 “That your love may abound in all knowledge and real discernment.  Unless there is discernment and doctrinal knowledge of God’s Word, you don’t have the love of Jesus.” (1)

Jacob may want to read verses 9 & 10 together, as it certainly speaks to his continual offensive behavior.

Philippians 1:9-10 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgement. That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.”

Thayer Definition: knowledge:

1) precise and correct knowledge

1a) used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine

Thayer Definition: without offence

1) having nothing to strike against, not causing to stumble

1a) of a smooth road

1b) metaphorically of not leading others to sin by one’s mode of life

Strongs: actively inoffensive, that is, not leading into sin; passively faultless, that is, not led into sin: – none (void of, without) offence.

His actions speak for themselves and certainly are a stumbling block to many. Prasch’s repeated railings and now threatening others to not associate with David Nathan is brutish and ignorant and is completely lacking in “knowledge of things ethical and divine.” His insincerity and over the top offensiveness are apparent and blatant even within his own ranks. Yet many continue to be bullied into silence and comply, so they don’t become his next target. This behavior is not new to Prasch, this is what he does and has done to many in the past.

The biggest elephant in the room (yes there is more than one) in all of this is, WHY hasn’t Jacob Prasch embraced David Nathan as a brother who has been and is willing at every turn to be corrected and reconciled????? This should continue to ring louder and louder in the ears of all who have been impacted, shipwrecked, and heart-sick over this.

Jacob Prasch still continues  to rage like a rampaging imbecile with no thought or concern for the body of Christ.  There is no doubt that Jacob  will continue to put out more videos and letters of “clarification” etc.  plus whatever threats and antics he does behind closed doors. I do want to thank David Nathan for at least bringing this to the light. Perhaps Jacob will see the wisdom in accepting your offer to be corrected and reconcile. Till then, the question will remain, Why hasn’t Jacob Prasch embraced this offer from David Nathan?

What was so obvious to me is the fact that Jacob choose to ignore David’s pleas to work through it, didn’t seem to bother anyone else. I finally figured out why, it’s twofold for me. Coming out of deception and being beaten by those who we had to break away from I realize that seeing unjust, cruel treatment of other believers is a trigger for me. I now find it ironic that Jacob, who is known for speaking out against false teachers, yet he has the same mode of operation that they have when they are threatened or challenged.

The second thing is, I have honestly never seen a well-known leader be willing and open to correction and reconciliation. More importantly, is David’s concern for the body of Christ at all cost to him. Praying for God’s intervention and wisdom in all of this.

1. https://www.facebook.com/john8v32
2. https://www.moriel.org/articles-and-news/7120-important-notice-regarding-david-nathan-aug-2018.html
3. https://www.moriel.org/articles-and-news/7130-jacob-prasch-response-to-david-nathan-sept-5th-2018.html
4. https://www.moriel.org/articles-and-news/7130-jacob-prasch-response-to-david-nathan-sept-5th-2018.html
5. https://youtu.be/7x9t_kgPNho?list=UUAFAz3Yau0kVYdr1nZ4IFTQ
6. https://youtu.be/VeRUtdJpuXE?list=UUAFAz3Yau0kVYdr1nZ4IFTQ
7. https://youtu.be/Hxn0FrfJHYU
8. https://youtu.be/Hxn0FrfJHYU 

MORIEL'S LETTER TO STUDIO SCOTLAND & GLOBAL VISION24/7

The following letter from Moriel Ministries to Stuart Menelaws of Studio Scotland & Global Vision24/7 is perhaps a cautionary lesson for anyone considering challenging Jacob Prasch.

The primary lesson is that we should not give any opportunity for the enemy to make mischief among us. Although it was unedited, Global Vison24/7tv's excerpt of the Q&A video David Nathan's Right of Reply at Bill Randle's church ended prematurely, before Bill Randles objection to David Nathan's comment about the blood of Jesus during the millennium. {1} This was unfortunate, and it has resulted in further unpleasantness. As David Lister says, the video resulted in "misleading viewers from the factual reality seen on the unedited video." Moriel's subsequent video does give us a fuller picture, although that video is problematic in that it was manipulated in Prasch's favour! {2} The Moriel video has made it very difficult for those of us who, despite our reservations, have attempted to support David Nathan, believing him to be an innocent victim. Another problem is that David Nathan's old video of the "healing jacket" was in fact put up on YouTube in June of this year. Why would Bread of Life Ministries air a false teaching that was retracted by Nathan years ago? 

Nevertheless, Prasch's false intra-seal theory that he has taught as doctrine on a number of occasions is an enormous issue. Also outstanding is the question of his ecumenical association with David Noakes and Clifford Hill of Issachar Ministries. Prasch has consistently ignored these serious matters, but they bear witness to the fact that he is no better than other false teachers. I think there is a word for that somewhere! (Matthew 7:1-5). 

Both Lister and Prasch reject Nathan's false teaching that a personal word from the Lord is co-equal with the written Word of God. I am not sure that David Nathan has actually taught this, but I agree. that we test everything by the scriptures. (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11). David Noakes' "prophecies" do present a problem in this respect however since he has the presumption to prophesy in the first person of the Lord. If a "prophet" speaks in the first person of the Lord, he is, by definition, speaking the very words of God. In this particular case, technically, Noakes' "prophecies" are supposedly co-equal with the written Word! Perhaps Prasch would like to illuminate us on this point?

LETTER FROM MORIEL TO STUDIO SCOTLAND & GV 24/7 - 29TH OCTOBER , 2018

To : Mr. Stuart Menelaws
Studio Scotland
Fife, Scotland, UK

Dear Sir

I am writing in my capacity as International Administrator for Moriel Ministries.

As you are aware, the Moriel board has determined various teachings of Mr. David Nathan, formerly associated with Moriel, to be false and heretical.

We reject Mr. Nathan’s denial of the Gospel not being eternal and the Blood of Jesus not being eternally efficacious while the blood of millennial animals will be. Here, we are in agreement with the public letter in this regard by Pastor Bill Randles. We further reject David Nathan's false teaching of a personal word from The Lord being co-equal with the Written Word of God, and his insistence that God The Father is not the Creator and that The Father never created anything. We additionally reject as categorically false the teaching posted on the internet on the 24th of June of this year that Christians can pray the anointing of God into the fabric of a jacket or tie.

While we accept Studio Scotland and GV24/7 have the legal right to promote and promulgate such a heretical "ministry", it is something with which we want no association. Our board was frankly shocked to see that you had edited the Q&A video of Jacob Prasch and David Nathan at Pastor Randle's church, misleading viewers from the factual reality seen on the unedited video.

When Jacob Prasch agreed to appear in your films 'The Daniel Project' and 'The Daniel Connection', he did so in good faith as unto The Lord for evangelistic aims. He received no remuneration as did the secular actors in your films, nor did he ask for any. We know at least one of these films, and possibly both have been sold to secular interests. Jacob Prasch did not do these films 'gratis' for commercial reasons but as a faith based enterprise only.. Neither he, nor his board wish material featuring him in film, orally, in name, image, or otherwise being distributed by an organisation promoting what we can only deem as heresy, nor have his name or work misused for commercial purposes in any non Evangelical enterprise.

Moriel is is also in total harmony with those pastors, churches, and ministries that have banned David Nathan as a false teacher such as Tony Pearce, John Haller, Pastor Charles, The Christian Ministers Fellowship International (CMFI), Genesis Radio & TV and various others.

We respectfully request therefore that you immediately remove these two videos having Jacob Prasch and any other containing any narration by Jacob Prasch. We are a ministry, not a business, and we uphold scriptural truth, we do seek not any alliance with those merchandising such serious doctrinal error of a blatantly heretical and very serious nature.

Kindly remove aforementioned titles featuring Jacob Prasch. Neither he, nor we wish his name to be even be associated with Studio Scotland.

Sincerely,

David Lister

**DISCLAIMER** The Moriel Facebook page is for posting announcements. It is not a forum for open discussion and/or debate. To limit this, we have opted to hide ALL comments from ALL users. We reserve the right to delete any comments or ban any disruptive users. We highly encourage everyone to private message us with their comments or concerns. {3}

Official Response to David Lister for distribution

FAO: Mr David Lister
Moriel Ministries USA
Moriel Missions UK
Date: 7th November 2018

I always make myself available to meet and discuss challenges that life can bring, particularly where conflict may arise and yesterday I replied to a disparaging email from Jacob Prasch with the intent to see if we could meet to discuss recent events – his response was both unhelpful and shameful. To that end I have been counselled to keep my reply to your organisation only to the subject of the production questions raised.

The following information is given in accordance with PACT industry regulations during the period 2006-2010 covering documentary production and distribution.

::The Daniel Project television documentary::

Mr Prasch was one of 10 participants to be interviewed who claimed a specific knowledge on related subject matter. In accordance with regulations governing the use of interviews within a documentary format for terrestrial television, interviews must be conducted with no payment so as to confirm a non-bias agenda (expenses only are normally covered unless waived).

Payment may only be made to professional presenters or voice-over artists in accordance with the type of contract agreed in writing. Presenters are not deemed expert witnesses but merely actors. Every professional documentary or film project is subject to very strict rules and under no circumstances would a film be acquired by any distributor or broadcaster if the substantial paperwork necessary was incomplete. 

After stringent legal processes, productions are acquired by a distributor(s) (they are not sold by the production company) whereby the producers (Studio Scotland Ltd) must sign away all rights but are still liable for all broadcast compliance files, insurance, lawyers, clearance, classification, translation and marketing costs. This is standard procedure. The distributor is the one who leases the production to a broadcaster for a fixed term and agreed rate which we may eventually see a proportion of once all their costs are covered. This can take several years because the remuneration is small and the distributors have to cover the cost of their stand and associated expenses to travel to a film market or festival in order to ‘sell’ our particular film – amongst the thousands of others that are also vying for attention.

Mr Prasch signed a full release contract form in accordance with ‘The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television’ broadcast standards, a copy of which, if requested may only be sent to Mr Prasch at his personal request or a legal body acting on his behalf. If Mr Prasch would like to receive a copy of said document please ask him to send an SAE to our studio with a signed covering letter. This will be dealt with promptly.

The signed contract is with Mr Prasch and not any bodies or groups he is a part of. By law we cannot divulge personal contractual information to a third party. Removal from commercial films is not possible. Studio Scotland has no rights over both productions. This is standard practice.

::In regard to Mr Prasch’s request to share his beliefs within an evangelistic format::

Proselytisation within a TV documentary format will be rejected under  European broadcast standards, however, in keeping with this request, this was made possible by Studio Scotland via an ‘extras’ section available on an approved DVD and on free digital download for The Daniel Project. The distributor at that time ‘Mercury Media International Ltd’ gave approval (not usual for a distributor) in allowing many churches, and faith based organisations all over the world to use the film as an outreach tool as long as no payments were made – hundreds of showings in churches, halls, hotels, prisons, army camps and universities were granted free licenses. We have a substantial file of emails from churches, pastors, educators and individuals around the world, who have been positively impacted by watching or showing the production. There is also a tiny selection of many hundreds of reviews listed on the official website.

The production was translated to Brazilian Portuguese and Hispanic Spanish for use across South America – and could also be understood by Europeans who didn’t understand English - and we also provided English Subtitles for Hard of Hearing. All of that at a cost of many thousands of dollars. Controversial TV documentaries have strict translation guidelines and must be passed once again through the legal, insurance and certification system. Like everything else, this was financed solely by Studio Scotland. We have not recovered the costs for doing this.

With a legally cleared South American DVD master, we have since been able to supply various ministries reaching out to those communities with 100s of DVDs in card folders at the cost of physical production and delivery. Hundreds if not thousands of DVDs have been given away free of charge and our production / mastering house near London has a record of every DVD produced. This is a requirement in regard to library footage licencing as The Daniel Project has over 100 library licences which we must adhere to as another legal requirement.

::The Daniel CONNECTION feature film::

The Daniel CONNECTION feature film was made for those who would not watch a documentary and has the same aims as The Daniel Project. It has a different distributor, rules and regulations, Studio Scotland Ltd are still thousands of dollars in debt to the distributor and that is before payments can be made to recover costs for production. This is standard for the industry and is clearly understood by professionals within the media. All actors are paid during production in accordance with their agency contracts along with point system benefits after full recovery costs for those eligible. This is a standard practice for cinematic production.

::Commercial gain?::

Three international broadcasters/distributors and an international DVD distributor (servicing supermarkets and book stores worldwide) asked us to re-edit the documentary and in some cases to incorporate other spiritual beliefs to be more in-line with their broadcast policies, which in turn would have enabled Mercury Media and Studio Scotland to gain financially. We refused and those broadcasters/distribution outlets rejected The Daniel Project. We believed it to be important to remain true to the original format and to have integrity in all our dealings.

::In Summary::

Based on an original cable TV /Video resource produced by Stewart and Deborah Menelaws, ‘Cup of Trembling- countdown to Armageddon’ in 1996, ‘The Daniel Project’ was without doubt, one of the most ground breaking terrestrial TV documentaries of its time, working within the strict confines imposed on production covering faith based subjects. As a secular project within a secular environment it has touched the lives of millions via a wide range of networks world-wide.

Tragically, in recent years, a number of Christian based distribution outlets regretfully will no longer stock ‘The Daniel Project’ DVD – and it is Mr Prasch’s behaviour and conduct that has been cited as the issue. Sales of the actual DVD are almost non-existent. The documentary itself is currently showing on Amazon Prime TV and was acquired by the multi award winning documentary distributor ‘Journeyman Pictures’’. All distribution rights belong to them (they acquired Mercury Media resources who went into liquidation owing us royalties). The film continues to touch lives on secular media – and that is who and what it was made for.

::Mr Prasch appearing / removal on faith based media::

In regard to Mr Prasch appearing on our free to view subsidiary Global Vision TV at GV247.TV which is a non-profit part of the company but is required to be connected due to licensing contracts with interviews, film, video and imagery, we had already taken steps to remove Mr Prasch. We are still in the process of clearing his image from various files and whilst this will take time, please be assured, we have made that a priority.

Sincerely: Stewart Menelaws
Managing Director
Studio Scotland Ltd

{1} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD2y77fF7sk
{2} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeRUtdJpuXE&t=1384s
{3} https://www.facebook.com/MorielTV/posts/2146077629043983?__tn__=K-R