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Antichrist, The Beast, Part 3

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 1, 2015 by paulthepoke

Revelation 13:1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.

This verse contains a hint. From where does the antichrist come? What is all of this business regarding horns and heads and diadems. The Bible gives an explanation for each of these terms. But, you have to look for it. The answers are given in the Old Testament and New Testament.

In the Bible, horns are equated with kings and leaders. This was the case in the writings of the Old Testament as well.

Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7 is consistent with the verses in Revelation 13 and 17. The language regarding beasts and horns is consistent. Revelation 13 does provide additional information regarding “heads” which will be discussed in the next post.

With Daniel’s dream, four beasts came up from the sea. Beasts are equated with kings and kingdoms (Daniel 7:17). The issue is the fourth beast. Daniel 7:7-8 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.

Scripture interprets Scripture, not humanity. Daniel 7:16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

Daniel did not interpret the dream. He had divine help. Daniel 7:19-20 Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates.

Daniel 7:23-24 Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.

The beast kingdom will start out as a ten ruler committee. The antichrist, little horn, or the beast of Revelation (take your pick of names) will eliminate three of the rulers and take control. The other seven rulers will hand over their power to the antichrist. That is the sequence of the beast taking control of his empire.

Revelation 17:12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. Horns are equated with kings. These kings are going to turn over their authority to the beast or antichrist. Revelation 17:13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

Daniel 7, Revelation 13, and Revelation 17 are the same time period, same beast/kingdom, and same beast/antichrist.

Guess work is not indicated. God reveals, but His word has to be read.

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Antichrist, The Beast, Part 2

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 25, 2015 by paulthepoke

Revelation 13:1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.

Who is the dragon? That is answered in Revelation 12:9. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Chapter 12 of Revelation discusses how the Satan and his angels have been ejected from Heaven to Earth. He is described as having great wrath or thumos in the Greek. Per Strong’s Concordance, thumos means: passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again; glow, ardour, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength). This anger is modified as great or megas (used of intensity and its degrees: with great effort, of the affections and emotions of the mind, of natural events powerfully affecting the senses: violent, mighty, strong) in the Greek. To say Satan is not happy is an understatement. The focus of his angst will be Israel.

dragon

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea… From where does the beast or antichrist emerge? Is he Jewish or gentile? This is a topic of great debate. There are reasonable presentations suggesting he is Jewish. Our eternal salvation is not dependent on this issue. Bible believing people can respectfully disagree.

This blog’s position: The antichrist is a gentile.

The antichrist is the last leader of the times of the Gentiles. In today’s world (January 2015), would the United Nations allow a Jewish man to be Secretary General? Would the Muslim world be agreeable to this idea? Stranger things have happened. Jerusalem, Israel is going to be pummeled prior to the return of Christ. Of those Jews who are not killed, the antichrist will try to disperse the Jews again from Israel. He wants to purge Israel of  their people. Luke 21:24 …and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Historically, Gentiles have lead invasions of Israel. Gentiles persecute the Jews. Look at the leaders who have done this in the past: Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon), Tiglath-Pileser (Assyria), Antiochus Epiphanes (Greek King, Seleucid Empire), also Nero and the Romans. Would a Jewish leader of a foreign army launch an invasion of Israel?

In the Bible, the sea is equated with gentile nations. There are examples in the Old Testament and New Testament.

Isaiah 17:12 Alas, the uproar of many peoples who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rumbling of nations who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!

Ezekiel 26:3 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre (Lebanon), and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves…

Luke 21:25 There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.

A primary key to understanding and interpreting Revelation 13:1 is given later in Revelation 17. In regards to the beast coming out of the sea…Revelation 17:15 And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

Eventually, a Jewish man will descend from Heaven. And He will rule. Acts 1:11 They (angels) also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

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Antichrist, The Beast, Part 1

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 18, 2015 by paulthepoke

Revelation 11:7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

The antichrist’s initial appearance in Revelation 6 is as a conquering hero as the rider of the white horse. His appearance starts the action in the seven year period. “The beast” makes his first appearance under this title in Revelation 11. The Greek word for beast is therion. Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: a wild animal, wild beast; metaphorically a brutal, bestial man, savage, and ferocious.

“The beast” has his origin from the bottomless pit or the abyss. The word is abussos in the original Greek text. Per Strong’s, it is defined as: bottomless, unbounded, the abyss, the pit, the immeasurable depth; of Orcus, a very deep gulf or chasm in the lowest parts of the earth used as the common receptacle of the dead and especially as the abode of demons.

The testimony and prophecy are being provided by the two witnesses of Revelation 11. They will present their case against humanity at the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. It is clearly a big deal when “the beast” is able to kill these two witnesses. Others will try to kill God’s two witnesses but meet death. Revelation 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.

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The two witnesses will not be popular with the masses. They will have the ability to control the weather by withholding rain. They will turn waters blood red. And they will have the ability to send any plague they want as often as they desire (Revelation 11:6).

The world is going to celebrate “the beast” because he will end the reign of the two witnesses. It will be party time on planet earth because these two are dead. Everybody get drunk and celebrate. Hail the conquering hero, “the beast”. Revelation 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

… will make war with them, and overcome them … The Greek grammar of this phrase is precise and certain. The beast is going to initiate and pick a fight. He is going to bring it. He will conquer the two witnesses.

The intensity of his attack is noted in the Greek word for kill in the verse above. The word in the original Greek is apokteino. Per Strong’s it means: to kill in any way whatever, to destroy, to allow to perish; metaphorically to extinguish, abolish; to inflict mortal death; to deprive of spiritual life and procure eternal misery in hell.

“The beast” is not satisfied with just seeing the two men’s death. It is not enough to only exterminate them. He wants them really dead! Suffer! Eternal Pain! Go to Hell! “The beast” will use these two as an example. Their bodies will not buried. They will be left dead, on display, for all to see for three and a half days (Revelation 11:9).

To this point in Revelation, the antichrist has brokered peace in the Middle East. Then “the beast” killed God’s two prophets and witnesses. He is just getting started…

By the way, God publically resurrects His two witnesses (Revelation 11:11-12).

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Antichrist, Greek Empire Roots, Part 3

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Hell, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2015 by paulthepoke

Daniel 8:25b…and he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency”.

…and he will magnify himself in his heart…His ego will be out of control. Pride will be on display. Confidence will not be lacking and he will be capable of great things, just ask him. He also takes after his leader Satan. God reminds Satan of his attitude and thoughts in Isaiah 14:13-14 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”

…and he will destroy many while they are at ease. People will be at quietness and prosperity. Then he will strike. This is consistent with Scripture in the New Testament as written by the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

He will even oppose the Prince of princes…Now this is a bad career move. It is never a good idea to oppose Jesus Himself. But, this is the kind of ego he possesses. The antichrist will take his stand and present himself against Christ.

..but he will be broken without human agency”. The Hebrew says the antichrist will be shabar or broken. Shabar is defined as: to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked, or be crushed (figuratively). The phrase without human agency is an interesting one. It literally means “with nothingness of hand” in the Hebrew. He will be get what he deserves but not at the hand of a human being, which includes Jesus. Per the passages above, the antichrist is not sentenced to death by the Prince of princes.

This seems a bit confusing on the surface, until Revelation 19:20. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

No death for you…but, an eternal living hell.

Lake_of_Fire

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Antichrist, Greek Empire Roots, Part 2

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , on December 28, 2014 by paulthepoke

Daniel 8:23-25 “In the latter period of their rule, when the transgressors have run their course, a king will arise, insolent and skilled in intrigue. His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will; he will destroy mighty men and the holy people. And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence…

Little Horn of Daniel 8

This king will be insolent and skilled in intrigue. Other adjectives in the original Hebrew could describe him as strong, mighty, and fierce. He will understand and be able to teach and communicate riddles, difficult questions, parables, enigmatic and perplexing sayings or questions. (Hebrew definitions provided by Strong’s Concordance)

His power will be mighty, but not by his own power… His strength and power will be exceedingly great. It will be given to him. Revelation 13:2b, 4 tells us from where the man draws his power. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”

…and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will… The Hebrew grammar states he is the source and cause of destruction. He will destroy physical property to the point of ruination. He corrupts morally and is perverted. The destruction would appear to be beyond one’s power and difficult to do. The level of destruction will be extraordinary and difficult to comprehend. In a bizarre twist, his destruction will result in prosperity. In our vernacular, he will do whatever the hell he wants.

…he will destroy mighty men and the holy people… The Hebrew word for mighty is `atsuwm. Per Strong’s, it means: mighty, vast, numerous, countless, and strong (in number). Lots of people are going to perish at the antichrist’s hands. God’s people will also suffer at his hands. Revelation 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them…

And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence…He will demonstrate shrewdness or sekel in the original Hebrew. Sekel can be defined as: cunning or crafty in a bad sense. The antichrist is going to be one slick-talking, smooth liar. And he is going to be able to sell.

 

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Antichrist, Greek Empire Roots, Part 1

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , on December 14, 2014 by paulthepoke

Daniel 8:23-25 “In the latter period of their rule, when the transgressors have run their course, a king will arise, insolent and skilled in intrigue. His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will; he will destroy mighty men and the holy people. And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; and he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency”.

Daniel 8:23-25 is a description of the future antichrist. The prophet Daniel is given clarification and comprehension from the angel Gabriel of a vision he had previously received. The time point in history is clearly stated on three occasions. Gabriel specifically tells Daniel, in 8:17 “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” The angel Gabriel restates again in 8:19 “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” A third time in Daniel 8:26 we are told of the period in history. “The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but keep the vision secret, for it pertains to many days in the future.” So I take it these passages have to do with the end times…

Daniel 8:22 tells where this character will emerge from, the area of the Greek Empire. The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.  The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power. The prophet Daniel was in Babylon from approximately 606 BC to approximately 530 BC. Over 200 years later in 323 BC, Alexander the Great would conquer the known world and fulfill this prophecy. Alexander is the large horn. His kingdom was divided into four kingdoms (Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy). Notice in the map below, Rome or modern day Italy was not part of the Greek Empire. Modern day Greece is the country furthest west. This is suggestive the antichrist will not come from western Europe.

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Historically, there has been a pause of over 2,300 years since Alexander the Great. History is running its course. And we continue to wait for a king who will arise…not a nice guy.

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Antichrist, Peace Treaty, Part 2

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Peace Plan, Prophecy, Temple with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 7, 2014 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:26-27 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Look at all of the references to violence and destruction in these two verses: cut off, destroy, flood, war, desolation/desolate (3 times), put a stop, abominations, complete destruction, poured out… This is not a peaceful time.

even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. War, battle, conflict, and violence will be a feature of the time until the return of Christ. The Hebrew grammar states this is a fact and it is decreed.

he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week… The man who brokers the deal will definitively be the man who makes it happen. He will have the personality and be the center of attention. In the Hebrew, he is gabar: to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, or be great. He forges the alliance, treaty, or pledge. The treaty will be with the many or rab in the Hebrew. This can mean: much, many, great, abundant, or numerous. Middle East peace is going to be a big deal!

The length of the treaty is for “one week” or one shabuwa`. A shabuwa` is defined as a seven, period of seven (days or years), heptad, or week. This is an expression of how Jews keeps time.

Revelation does not specifically state a seven year period. Revelation 11:2-3 does give reference to periods of time of 42 months and 1,260 days. Both time periods are 3 ½ years. Added together, seven years. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering… The sacrificial system will be reinitiated in the Temple. Today (November 2014), the only thing preventing the Jews from starting the Temple service is the need for a Temple. See the Temple Mount Institute for details.

https://www.templeinstitute.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Temple-Institute/22738684968

Halfway through the seven year treaty, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament is halted by the beast in the Temple. And when this happens, get out of Jerusalem immediately! Do not waste time! See Matthew 24 and Mark 13 for details.

Matthew 24:15 Jesus confirms the writings of the prophet Daniel. “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)…”

Matthew 24:21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. –Jesus.

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Antichrist, Peace Treaty, Part 1

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Gospel, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 30, 2014 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:26-27 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Compare two people mentioned in the original Hebrew, “Messiah” and “prince”. In the Hebrew, the term for “Messiah” is mashiyach. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: anointed, anointed one, of the Messiah, Messianic prince, of the king of Israel, of the high priest of Israel. This describes Jesus, He is a king and a priest of the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7).

In the Hebrew, the term for “prince” is nagiyd. It means: leader, ruler, captain, or prince.

There is clearly a difference in prominence and prestige.

Messiah will be cut off… At the time of the writing of Daniel (approximately 606 BC to 539 BC), the idea of the Messiah being on the scene was prophetic. Messiah had yet to appear to Israel. Messiah Jesus Christ was 500-600 years away. This had to be confusing to readers, a Messiah who was going to be killed and have nothing to show.

This verse says the Messiah will be “cut off” or karath in the Hebrew. According to Strong’s Concordance karath means: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, or kill. Cut a covenant. This is exactly what Jesus did with His death on the cross. He was eliminated and killed at that time. With His death, He cut a blood covenant for the sins of the world.

the prince who is to come… Who are the people of this prince? In 70 AD, the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem and completely leveled the city. Many think the antichrist will come from a revived Roman Empire. In the western world, many assume this person will come from Europe. Look at a map of the Roman Empire. It is a large area of land. There is more to the Roman Empire than Italy. There is an eastern leg to the Roman Empire. The capital of the Roman Empire was moved to Constantinople, a city patterned after Rome. This eastern area included modern day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

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This geographic area also provides for the antichrist being Jewish. Early church writers including Irenaeus and Hippolytus looked to a Jewish antichrist and backed their positions with Scripture (The Truth Behind Left Behind, Hitchcock and Ice).

There is another coming in the future of today’s time (November 2014) who will take Jerusalem again. Who is this guy going to be? Where will he come from?

will destroy the city and the sanctuary… The Hebrew grammar is clear. The false prince will be the agent of destruction and ruin Jerusalem. This verse also implies there will be a future Temple in Jerusalem. It is called the qodesh in the Hebrew. Translated, the “holy”. In the New Testament, Jesus confirms the “holy place” in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14.

And its end will come with a flood… SUDDENLY! The Apostle Paul makes reference to the suddenness of the destruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

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The Antichrist

Posted in Antichrist/Beast, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 16, 2014 by paulthepoke

The term Antichrist is penned by one author in the Bible, John. 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. In the original Greek, the word for antichrist is antichristos. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as the adversary of the Messiah.

John’s language regarding the antichrist is straight forward and not complicated. 1 John 2:22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

The spirit of the antichrist is at work today (November 2014) and has been the case since the first century. This is hard to deny or argue when one looks at the condition of the world today. 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

In general, the issue is deception. There are and will be those who deny that Jesus lived in bodily form on Earth. People deny the physical reality of Christ. 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. John is talking about false teachers.

It makes sense the antichrist will be a liar. He is under the authority of Satan. Here is what Jesus had to say about Satan. The context of these verses is Jesus talking to some Jewish folks. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The antichrist is a counterfeit to the real deal, Jesus. Hitchcock and Ice provide a comparison and overview in their book. Jesus is the truth; the antichrist is the lie. Christ is the Holy One; the antichrist is the lawless one. Jesus is a man of sorrows; His counterpart is a man of sins. Jesus is the Son of God; the antichrist is the son of destruction. Christ cleansed the Temple; the antichrist will desecrate the Temple. Jesus is the Lamb of God; the antichrist is the beast (The Truth Behind Left Behind by Mark Hitchcock and Thomas Ice).

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