CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:1:  “Silvanus” = Silas.  Here is my First Peter 5:9 Note:  This postscript most likely was in Peter’s own handwriting, as Paul did (see 2Th. 3:17; Gal. 6:11-18).  If so, then “Silvanus” would correlate to “Silas,” who was the bearer of this Epistle also.  Paul uses this same name in Second Corinthians 1:19 & First Thessalonians 1:1, whom we know to be referring to Silas.

 

1:3:  “meet” = An old English word meaning, “suitable.”

 

“charity” = An old English word meaning, “love.”

 

1:4:  “patience” = The literal Greek work carries with it the meaning, “to carry under,” such as a heavy load.

 

1:6:  “God to recompense tribulation” = Notice, God will take care of this; we should just stand back and watch.  Read Romans 12:19.

 

1:8:  “In flaming fire” = Compare with Second Thessalonians 2:8.

 

1:9:  “everlasting destruction” = See my Bible Study:  “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT.”

 

1:10:  “glorified in His saints” = Compare with Colossians 1:27.

 

1:11:  “work of faith” = Compare with James 2:20 & 26.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

2:1:  “our gathering” = Rather, Christ’s “gathering” His people to Him at His Second “Coming.”

 

2:3:  “a falling away” = The Greek word is, “apostasia” (see my Note in verse 2:6 also), which should have been translated as, “The falling away.”  Not that “a falling away” doesn’t express the fact that there will be “a falling away.” But the Greek word is very positive and affirming.  It is to factual to translate it as “a” rather than “the,” because there is no doubt that this will happen.  This Greek word is where English speaking people get their word, “apostasy.”  Therefore, if it makes it stronger for you, those in the Church would “apostasia” away from Biblical truth.  The Greek undertone meaning is, “a rejection of a former allegiance.”  It has also been used in Greek secular works as a military term of war.  In the Christian sense, it would mean waring against God.

 

“man of sin” = That the “man of sin” = “the Roman church,” see GC:49.

 

From “Works of Martin Luther with Introductions and Notes,” (WML) (6 Volumes Philadelphia:  A.J. Holman & Castle, 1915-1932), 3:368 cf. 376, we read:  “St. Paul calls Antichrist the man of sin and the son of perdition, because through his precepts and laws he will turn all the world from God and prevent God and the world from coming together, he shall be a master of sin and all iniquity, and yet will retain the name and appearance of Christ and call himself Sanctimius and Vicarius Dei and Caput Ecclesiae [“Most Holy One; Vicar of God; Head of the Church”], and persecute all who will not obey him.  It is easy to recognize that the pope more than fits this description.”

 

“The papal power is specified as the ‘man of sin’.”  2SAT:182.

 

“The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the papal power.”  4SP:51.1.

 

“Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, the mystery of iniquity carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work.  Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian Church.  The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the Church endured under paganism.  But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the Requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions.  The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, arrayed in robes of righteousness, walked into the Church.  Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed.  Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror.  Her spirit controlled the Church.  Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. [4SP:51.2]

 

“This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of the man of sin foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God.  That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan’s power, -- a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.”  4SP;51.2-52.1.

 

“The prophet Daniel declared that the Roman church, symbolized by the little horn, was to think to change times and laws [Daniel 7:25.], while Paul styled it the man of sin  [2Th. 2:3], who was to exalt himself above God. Only by changing God’s Law could the papacy exalt itself above God; whoever should understandingly keep the law as thus changed would be giving supreme honor to that power by which the change was made.  Such an act of obedience to papal laws would be a mark of allegiance to the pope in the place of God.”  4SP279.1.

 

“Even at that early date he [Paul] saw, creeping into the Church, errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy.”  GC:49.1.

 

“The prophetic declaration that the Papacy was to exalt itself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, has been strikingly fulfilled in the changing of the Sabbath.”  ST, November 1, 1899.

 

“be revealed” = Just before the Second Coming of Christ all will be able to identified the Roman Catholic church as the Bibles, “man of sin.”  Mainly by the changing of God Law from Sabbath to Sunday; when the Sunday Laws will be enacted.

 

“son of perdition” = Or “son of destruction.”  There is only one other place in Scripture where this appellation is used.  It is applied to Judas by or Savior (John 17:12) as one who allowed Satan to enter into his heart (John 13:2 & 27).  Judas, as does Satan, used deception (a kiss) to betray Christ.  This is just another title or description of the “man of sin” who is headed for “destruction.”  To be totally clear, Satan is headed for destruction.  See Revelation 9:11.

 

“Not till after the great apostasy, and the long period of the reign of the ‘man of sin,’ can we look for the Advent of our Lord.  The ‘man of sin,’ which is also styled ‘the mystery of iniquity,’ ‘the son of perdition,’ and ‘that wicked,’ represents the papacy, which, as foretold in prophecy, was to maintain its supremacy for 1260 years.  This period ended in 1798.  The Coming of Christ could not take place before that time.  Paul covers with his caution the whole of the Christian dispensation down to the year 1798.  It is this side of that time that the message of Christ’s Second Coming is to be proclaimed.”  GC:356.

 

2:3 & 6:  “[3] be revealed. . . [6] revealed in his time” = The Greek word used for “revealed” is, “apokalupto,” meaning, “to uncover, to unveil, to disclose, to make known.”  The same verb is repeated in Second Thessalonians 2:8, and is used elsewhere in the New Testament of supernatural revelations (Mat. 16:17; Luke 10:22; etcetera); particularly of the appearing of Christ (Luke 17:30).  The noun form is, “apokalupois,” meaning “revelation,” and occurs in First Corinthians 1:7; Second Thessalonians 1:7; First Peter 1:7 & 13; 4:13.  This would suggest that the revelation of the “man of sin” involves supernatural elements, and more importantly, that his area of operation may be distinctly religious in character.

 

2:4:  “he as God sitteth in the Temple of God” = The “Temple of God” spoken of here is the one that is in Heaven that has been vacated by our Lord when He moved from the “Holy Place” to the “Most Holy Place” (vacating the Holy Place which Satan now occupies since 1844 A.D.).  See my Bible Study on the Book of Daniel; specifically, Chapter 8, Verse 14.

 

For those who attempt to make this verse mean that there will be an earthly temple built in Jerusalem before the great and terrible Day of the Lord, they miss the rest of the Bible that proclaims the Heavenly Sanctuary in all Its majesty, well portrayed by John in his Book of the Revelation, and two verses that scream this Biblical truth, Second Corinthians 5:1 & Hebrews 9:11 (see that entire Chapter), that the New Jerusalem doesn’t come down until after the 1000-year period and the “Temple” will no longer be needed, for God is the “Temple” of it.  Also, they mis-understand Daniel, Chapter 9, verses 24-27.  There is no more need of a “Temple,” for Christ has already been sacrificed; “in the midst of the week.”

 

“[265] Paul’s words were not to be misinterpreted.  It was not to be taught that he, by special revelation, had warned the Thessalonians of the immediate Coming of Christ.  Such a position would cause confusion of faith; for disappointment often leads to unbelief.  The apostle therefore cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as coming from him, [266]

 

“and he proceeded to emphasize the fact that the papal power, so clearly described by the prophet Daniel, was yet to rise and wage war against God’s people.  Until this power should have performed its deadly and blasphemous work, it would be in vain for the Church to look for the Coming of their Lord.”  AA:265-266.

 

“I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it.  Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God.  I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, ‘Father, give us Thy Spirit.’  Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace.  Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.  I saw one after another leave the company who were praying to Jesus in the Holiest [meaning, Most Holy Place], go and join those before the throne [meaning, in the Holy Place that Christ had evacuated] and they at once received the unholy influence of Satan.”  DS, March 14, 1846; Broadside 1, April 6, 1846; EW:56; ExV:43 [SDA’s NOTE:  Last sentence left out of EW and ExV].

 

“Paul, in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, points out the power that has attempted to break down the Law of God.  He warns the believers concerning the great apostasy and the blasphemous antichristian power that would be developed and perform its work before Christ should come the Second time.  He says: ‘That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. . .

 

“The mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth [hindereth] will let [hinder], until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His Coming.”  The prophet Daniel, describing the same power, says, “He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change Times and Laws.’

 

“How strikingly have these prophecies been fulfilled by the Romish Church!  Not only has this power attempted to change the Times and Laws of God, but she openly avows that she has made such changes, and she declares that by the observance of Sunday, which rests solely upon her authority, the Protestant world is acknowledging the supremacy of Rome.  It is the breach which has thus been made in the Law of God that the people described by Isaiah are seeking to build up.”  ST, June 12, 1893.

 

“The man of sin was to arise, and do his work of exaltation and blasphemy, before the brethren could look for the Coming of Christ.  That great event was to be preceded by a falling away.  There would be revealed a form of Antichrist, and the leaven of apostasy was to work with increasing power to the end of time.”  RH July 31, 1888; 7BC:910.

 

“Temple” = In another application, the Greek word for “Temple” which Paul incorporates here is, “naos,” which can mean the actual building structure (which still applies to the Heavenly Sanctuary), or one’s physical bodily temple.  It must be noted that when Paul uses this word, seven times to be exact, the other six times are only in representation of the physical bodily state (see 1Co. 3:16 & 17 [twice]; 6:19; 2Co. 6:16 [twice]; Eph. 2:21; and other places where Paul just refers to your body as the temple of God -- 1Co. 3:9; Gal. 6:10).  Therefore, it is most likely that Paul here is speaking of the bodily temple as opposed to the physical Sanctuary.  In other words, do not let Satan occupy this position in your life.

 

However, it truly has a “dual application.”  It is most probable that Paul is predominately here referring to the time when Satan will occupy the vacated throne of God.  Here is ExV:43-44 (1851); Broadside1, April 6, 1846, paragraph 7; also quoted in ExV:43-44.

 

“[43] Then He raised His right arm and we heard His lovely [44] voice saying, ‘Wait here -- I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself.’  And I saw a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, and angels were all around it as it came where Jesus was.  He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the Holiest where the Father sat.  There I beheld Jesus, standing before the Father, a great High Priest.  On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate.  And I saw those who rose up with Jesus send up their faith to Him in the Holiest, and pray -- my Father give us Thy Spirit.  Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost.  In the breath was light, power, and much love, joy and peace.  Then I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it.  Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God.  I saw them look up to the throne and pray, Father give us thy Spirit; then Satan would breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy and peace.  Satan’s object was to keep them deceived, and to draw back and deceive God’s children.  I saw one after another leave the company who were praying to Jesus in the Holiest {Most Holy Place}, and go and join those before the throne, and they at once received the unholy influence of Satan.”

 

2:6:  “he” = Since the “he” in this verse must be “that man of sin” of verse 3, because it is “he” that must “be revealed,” verse 3, then the power “what witholdeth,” has to be God, for “He” is the only power that can restrain Satan.  The point Paul in making here is that God is holding back the premature manifestation of this “man of sin,” before God is ready to finish His work.  In other words, God is waiting upon His people.

 

“revealed in his time” = See my Second Thessalonians 2:3 & 6 Note.

 

2:7:  “he” = Since the restraining power (in old English “let” means “to restrain,” and the Hebrew is, “katecho,” meaning, “to hold down, to restrain, hold fast,” staying in context with verse 6, the “he” here is referring to God and should be capitalized as “He.”  Therefore, both “He[‘s]” in this verse are God.  And since it is God that will be “taken out of the way,” than it is the restraining power of the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn from this earth (see GC:589 & 614).  To assume that the “he” in this verse is the Papacy is to also say that Satan will cast out Satan, which Christ taught us that “he” will not do (Mat. 12:26; Mark 3:23).

 

“mystery” = Here is my First Corinthians 15:51-52 Note:  The Greek word for “mystery” used here is “musterion.”  In Greek thought, a “mystery” is something that was once clouded with uncertainties, but is now known and revealed.  For applications where the use of this Greek word and its concept is better seen, see Mark 4:11; Romans 11:25; 16:25; First Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:9.

 

“mystery of iniquity” = This really works out to mean, “mystery of anti-law.”  The Greek word used for “iniquity” is, “anomias,” which means, “contempt and violation of law; iniquity.”  The title refers to a power that is characterized by lawlessness.  The reference to law is particularly significant in view of the attempt by the papacy to change God’s Law, referred to in Daniel 7:25.  That the papacy fits this title and all the above is clear, and for any other to meet all these criteria in history has been literally impossible.  And that Satan is behind all of this, and is the embodiment of iniquity, describes the “man of sin” to the fullest.

 

However, we all know what “iniquity” is.  By contrast, when you add the word “mystery,” the meaning takes on an even more sinister meaning when you tie it with Matthew 24:24, in that our Lord explains the “they shall deceive the very elect.”  This means that this “mystery of iniquity” is as close to the truth as possible without being the truth for the purpose of destroying the truth and the followers thereof.

 

Also, see my First John 3:4 Note, which explains that could you have an explanation for sin, then it would no longer be a “mystery.”  But there is no explanation for it and it remains a “mystery.”  For “iniquity” literally means, “lawlessness.”  The absence of morality.

 

“letteth will let” = “. . . ‘letteth (hindereth) will let (hinder).’ ”  ST, June 12, 1893.  When God stops His restraint, then all hell will be let lose.  Composed in the phrase, “until he be taken out of the way.”  Either the restraining angel(s), or God Himself (Holy Spirit) backs off.  Evidenced by His presence still being felt right now.  I believe this to be the Holy Spirit based upon Isaiah 59:19.

 

2:8:  “then shall that Wicked be revealed” = That “that Wicked” is not Satan can be discerned from reading verse 9, for he is “whose coming is after [but not is] the working of Satan.”  Therefore, this “Wicked” is found in verse 3, “that man of sin,” which equals “the son of perdition,” here and in John 17:12.  In John this would be referring specifically to Judas.  But here it would be expanded to mean anyone who is allowing Satan to control their lives instead of Christ (all the wicked at Christ’s Second Coming).  More specifically, if we study the Book of Revelation, the “man of sin” would be the Papacy.

 

The Greek for “that Wicked” is, “anomos,” and is translated ten times in the New Testament.  In Mark 15:28 and Luke 22:37, it is translated as “transgressors.”  In Acts 2:23 and here, it is translated as “wicked.”  And it should not be capitalized here.  In First Corinthians 9:21, twice it is translated as “without law.”  In First Timothy 1:9, it is translated as “”the lawless.”  And lastly, in Second Peter 2:8, it is translated as “unlawful.”  Thus, all the wicked can be rightly assumed here to be included at the Second Coming of our Lord.

 

Now that the restraining power of God is gone, Satan exercises “all power and signs and lying wonders,” verse 9, and is “revealed,” personating Christ (2Th. 2:3) and sending his plagues upon the earth (Mat. 24:24; Mark 13:22; Rev. 13:14).

 

“shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His Coming” = See Isaiah 11:4; 13: 6 & 9; Jeremiah 46:10; Joel 2:1-3; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Luke 17:29-30; First Thessalonians 5:2-3; Second Thessalonians 1:7-9.  See also my Bible Study:  “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT.”

 

By contrast, Satan is only restrained for a 1,000 period.  The “destroying” is of the wicked and the “destroying” of Satan’s ministry, which is/was to deceive them (beginning when Eve was deceived; 2Co. 11:3).

 

“If the people could not look upon His glory, which appeared upon Sinai the second time, as He again wrote His Law, how will the wicked, who have trampled upon the authority of God, bear His burning glory as they meet the great Lawgiver over His broken Law?”  1SP:257.

 

“[260] Those who trample upon God’s authority, and show open contempt to the Law given in such grandeur at Sinai, virtually despise the Lawgiver, the great Jehovah.  The children of Israel who transgressed the First and Second Commandments, were charged not to be seen anywhere near the mount, where God was to descend in glory to write the Law a second time upon tables of stone, lest they should be consumed with the burning glory of His presence.  And if they could not even look upon the face of Moses for the glory [261]

 

“of his countenance, because he had been communing with God, how much less can the transgressors of God’s Law look upon the Son of God when He shall appear in the clouds of Heaven in the glory of His Father, surrounded by all the angelic host, to execute judgment upon all who have disregarded the Commandments of God, and have trodden under foot His blood!”  1SP:260-261.

 

2:9:  “whose Coming” = Although this is speaking of the anti-Christ:  “The darkest hour of the Church’s struggle with the powers of evil, is that which immediately precedes the day of her final deliverance.”  PK:725. 

 

“The Coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth’s history.  The days of Noah and of Lot picture the condition of the world just before the Coming of the Son of man.  The Scriptures, pointing forward to this time, declare that Satan will work with all power and ‘with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.’  His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors, heresies, and delusions of these last days.  Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but also his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight.  To God’s people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth’s sake.  But out of that night of darkness God’s light will shine.” PK:717.

 

“power and signs and lying wonders” = “Power” we understand, “signs” we understand,” but “lying wonders?”  Again, this must be in reference to the coming “deceptions” that Satan will be using just before the Second Coming of Christ.  Such as getting people to believe an out-and-out lie.  See John 8:44.

 

2:10:  “in them that perish” = Note the word “in.”  I believe that this means that the unrighteous become possessed by demons; since the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn at this time.  Remembering, that their cause for “perishing” lies withing their own power.  No one will be in Hell for their sins.  They will be in Hell for rejecting the Provision given for their sins.

 

2:11:  “God shall send them strong delusion” = The key to understanding this verse, in that God is not the only actor in this action, i.e., the “them,” but there are others who chose this action of our Lord, is found in the beginning statement, “And for this cause.”  Therefore, what is the cause?  It is defined and explained in the previous verse, “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”  Second Thessalonians 2:10.  Thus, this futuristic text becomes clearer that this judicial act of God is really His action of only giving the wicked over to the evil which they have deliberately chosen.  Paul states it even more clearly such that we come to this conclusion by the way in which he states it to the Romans, in Romans 1:26:  “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts.”  Also, Romans 1:28 follows along, “God gave them over.”

 

At the same time, it is positive proof that our Second Thessalonians text is related to the Romans texts, in that Romans 1:26 stands as basically identical:  “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections.”  Thus, we can conclude that our Loving Father only gives them over to something they already decided to pursue instead of His Love.  Therefore, it appears that the Divine punishment is going to be more severe, in that they are taken over by a condition, and not merely to an evil desire.

 

“The Sabbath question and man not immortal and the testimony of Jesus are the great and important truths to be understood, which will prove as an anchor to hold God’s people in these perilous times.”  RH, February 18, 1862.

 

“a lie” = The Hebrew is “pseudos,” which is a definite article, dative neuter singular, meaning literally, “The lie.”  It is in the effective aorist tense, meaning, a specific occasion.  What is “The lie?”  See my Bible Study:  “SABBATH STILL VALID TODAY.”  Which will hopefully have you conclude that the change of the Biblical Sabbath to man’s (Roman Catholic church) Sunday sabbath, is “The Lie” swallowed by the no longer Protestant churches.

 

2:12:  “pleasure in unrighteousness” = Willful rejection of the truth has resulted in the love of evil.  See Isaiah 5:20-21.

 

2:13:  “because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation”  Correct.  God has “chosen” everyone to be saved.  But, only “through sanctification of the Spirit,” that means living a holy life, “and belief of the truth.”  Only those who believe and accept “the truth” will be saved.  Along with Colossians 1:27:  Christ in you, the hope of Glory.”

 

2:14:  “Gospel” = One purpose of the “Gospel” is to form the character of Christ in us (see below & Col. 1:27).

 

“to the obtaining of the glory” = “He has called us ‘to the obtaining of the glory’ -- character -- ‘of our Lord Jesus Christ,’” DA:341.

 

2:15:  “traditions” = The Greek word translated “traditions” is “paradoseis,” which literally means “things handed over,” or “passed down.”  The Bible heartily condemns many traditions of men because they contradict or subvert the truth of God (Mat. 15:3).  Paul does not give a wholesale endorsement to tradition as such.  He limits the traditions which they should “hold fast” to those which the church had received “by word of our epistle,” or in other words by Christ.  Paul declared that if any person or angel should preach any other gospel than the one he had preached, “let him be accursed,” Galatians 1:8.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

3:2:  “not faith” = All people have “faith” of some sort.  Thus, it should be translated, “The faith,” meaning a particular saving “faith,” which “all men” do not have.

 

3:6:  “withdraw yourselves” = See my Bible Study:  “NON-ASSOCIATES.”  Notice this is a “command,” not a suggestion.  Also notice this is over behavior and doctrine.

 

3:9:  “Not because we have not power” = Paul could have required them to pay his way, in teaching it would be the right thing to do.  But he decided to set a different “ensample.”

 

3:14:  “have no company with him” = See my Bible Study:  “NON-ASSOCIATES.”

 

3:15:  “as a brother” = The goal is not exclusion; but reformation.

 

3:17:  “the token in every Epistle” = Paul’s signature, or common phrase, or what Paul call’s here, his “token,” is contained in the phrase of verse 18:  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”  That this is Paul’s common phrase can be proved by seeing Romans 16:24; First Corinthians 16:23-24; Second Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians. 4:23; Colossians 4:18; First Thessalonians 5:28; Second Thessalonians 3:18; First Timothy 6:21; Second Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philemon 1:25; Hebrews 13:25.  And by the way:  No other Bible writer uses this particular phrase; essentially proving Paul to be the author of the Book of Hebrews.  The one exception is found in Second Peter 3:18; but even this is overruled in that Peter uses it as an exhortation and not as Paul does, i.e., that of a salutation or a blessing.  Paul is also the only one to use the salutation “grace,” verse 18.

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