Transcript Apocalypse Epitomised - Avon Christadelphian Ecclesia

Apocalypse Epitomised
By Brother H.P. Mansfield
Summary presentation for Avon Bible Class
Presented by Brother Dean Brown
May 31, 2007
1
Ground Rules
Description without “cheerleading” for or
against. This applies to all of us. No
arguing for or against tonight.
 Simple framework and confusing details.
 Questions about the basic description and
basic logic are allowed, but not questions
about details, otherwise we’ll get bogged
down.

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Why AE by HPM instead of
something more recent?
While CH has been updated over time, most of it
remains unchanged.
 AE is widely used and widely respected today.
 AE is a systematic CH look at Revelation within one
binding – no reading dozens of disparate articles.
 The current 5-volume edition of Eureka was published by
the Logos office with many publisher’s notes written by
Brother Mansfield at about the same time as AE.
 AE was written at about the same time as the books by
Brothers Harry Whittaker and Alfred Norris.

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It is clearly obvious, that if the
interpretation of Eureka is accepted, the
book of Revelation is an amplification of
that section of Daniel’s prophecy which
the prophet failed to comprehend.
 The entire Apocalypse is an amplification
of the fourth beast and the multitudinous
man (Dan 7-12); or the development and
decline of Rome both politically and
ecclesiastically, and of the work of the
saints in relation thereto.

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“Things which must shortly come to pass”
The correct interpretation is the Historic one
which treats the Apocalypse as a prophetic plan
of unfolding history, the fulfillment of which was
about to commence, to come to pass, shortly
after it was given to the Apostle John. The
visions and revelations thus cover history from
the day of the Apostle to the coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
 Hence the term “continuous-historic”.

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Letters to the Ecclesias:
In addition to the personal messages, the seven
Ecclesias seem to represent seven epochs of
Ecclesial activity.
 In Eureka, Brother Thomas suggests that the
messages not only describe the Ecclesias as they
existed in the days of the Apostle, but that they
also can be aligned with seven epochs of time.
 But in addition to that division, there seems to
be a long range prophecy as well, illustrating the
condition of Ecclesias to the Truth reaching to
the epoch of the second coming.

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Revelation 4 and 5

Our attention is first directed to a symbolic
description of the Kingdom in its glory,
and this is followed by the visions that
depict
events
leading
to
this
consummation. It may appear strange
that the final picture should be given first,
but it is the Spirit’s method, not only in
the book before us, but throughout the
prophetic Scriptures.
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Revelation 6 – The Seals





Judgments upon Pagan Rome.
1st seal – the Pax Romana from AD 98 to about
AD 180
2nd through 4th seals – period of trouble from
about AD 180 to 303
5th seal – persecution under Emporer Diocletian
6th seal – political earthquake where the existing
pagan order is overthrown by a pseudo-Christian
system under Constantine
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The Seven Angelic Trumpeters
Revelation 8-11

The opening of the seventh seal introduces
seven angelic trumpeters.
This significant
symbol is derived from the Old Testament use of
the trumpet, to call the people together.
Consequently, the sounding of these Apocalyptic
Trumpeters, summon the enemies of the Roman
Empire together for the purpose of judgment
upon it. The first four [trumpets] introduce
events that affect the Western section of the
Roman Empire; the last two summon forces that
afflict the Eastern section of it.
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The First Six Trumpets

1st four – affecting the Western Roman Empire:
–
–
–
–

1st trumpet – Alaric and the Goths
2nd trumpet – Genseric and the Vandals
3rd trumpet – Attila the Hun
4th trumpet – Odoacer and the fall of the Western
Roman Empire in 476 AD
Next 2 trumpets – affecting the Eastern Roman
Empire:
– 5th trumpet – the rise of Islam; Saracen expansion
– 6th trumpet – the rise of the Ottoman Turks; the fall
of Constantinople in 1453 (Moscow becomes the
“third Rome”)
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The Death and Resurrection of the
Witnesses Rev 11:1-13.

The warfare suggested in this prophecy commenced on
the establishment of Christianity as the State Church in
the year 312. It commenced a period of religious
controversy which continued for 1260 years to 1572 and
the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. In that year, Rome
made determined efforts to still the voice of religious
opposition. This succeeded in France, at least, where a
terrible massacre of those opposed to Rome took place.
This terminated the effective testimony of the witnesses,
and they were given over to political death. The coupe
de grace came in 1685 when, after a century of terrible
persecution, the Edict of Nantes that had granted some
relief to the persecuted was revoked, and effective
witnessing ceased for a time.
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
[Rev 11:7] The “two witnesses” are known to
history by several names: Donatists, Waldenses,
Novatians, Huguenots, etc.
All in their turn
witnessed against the autocratic ecclesiastical power
of Rome, and so maintained a continuous record of
opposition to its political and religious tyranny.
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
The conclusion of Chapter Eleven brings us to the
end of the first half of the Apocalypse. Now, with
the commencement of the second half, it retraces its
steps and again reviews history from the epoch of
Constantine onwards. Why the repetition? Is it not
confusing? No, a little thought will reveal that The
Apocalypse proceeds on a systematic plan of
historical development.
The previous chapters
predicted the following events of a political
character:
– (1) The “Christianizing” of pagan Rome (Rev 6-7);
– (2) The break-up of “Christianized” Rome (Rev 8-9);
– (3) The warfare of the witnesses and the triumph of the
truth (Rev 10-11). …
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
In thus concentrating upon political developments,
religious developments have been largely ignored.
Now, in orderly fashion, The Apocalypse retraces its
steps to take up that theme. Hence we have:
– (1) The development and destruction of the Holy Roman
Empire (Rev 12-14);
– (2) The Divine Judgment on the latter day political system
(Rev 15-16);
– (3) Divine judgment on the latter day religious system
(Rev 17-19).


The second half of The Apocalypse follows the first
half in orderly fashion. The Holy Roman Empire
replaces the Roman Empire, and its destruction is
described.
[Note: more about the Holy Roman Empire shortly]
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Revelation 12

If the term “heaven” is to be applied literally in
v. 7, it must be similarly applied in v. 1, which
states that the woman gives birth to her son “in
heaven.” Obviously this cannot relate to the
atmospheric heavens above and must apply to
the political “heaven” on earth. Moreover, for
any exposition of The Apocalypse to be sound, it
must conform to the basic principle that it was
given to reveal “things which must shortly come
to pass” (Rev 1:1). Applying this as a rule of
interpretation, we must seek for the fulfillment
of the birth of the man-child, the war in heaven,
and so forth, at some time after AD 96, when
the revelation was given to John.
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“And she brought forth a man child” [Rev 12:5]
This prophecy does not relate to Christ, as is
sometimes thought, for it is specifically declared
that The Apocalypse was designed to outline
“things which must come to pass”; but it
concerns the political birth of a system which the
flesh has confused with Christ. The political
birth of this “man child” was the beginning of
the fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy of the
manifestation of the Man of Sin (2 Thess 2:3).
This refers to an order of men (the Popes) and
not to a single individual.
 [Thus: refers to Constantine and his successors]

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Revelation 13
In this chapter, John reports on the uprise of
two beasts. The first he sees arises from out of
the sea; the second arises from out of the earth.
 As a whole the vision symbolizes the power and
influence enjoyed by Roman Catholicism in its
political manifestations, and depicts the brutal
persecution by which it endeavored to bend the
minds of men to its doctrines and practices.

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
The “beast of the sea” is represented as gaining
power through the help of the “dragon.” History
fulfils the prophecy inasmuch as the Papacy
gained its prestige and power through the help
of the Emperors of Constantinople. At that time,
Rome and Constantinople represented the
religious and military headquarters of the Roman
Empire. The armed might of Constantinople was
constantly extended in support of the Bishop of
Rome. However, the military power of
Constantinople gradually declined, as the empire
in the east came under pressure from the
Saracens and then the Ottomans, and the Pope
had to look elsewhere for support. …
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
But where could the Pope look for help? The
Empire in the West was at an end, and a new
power was arising: that of the Franks under
Pepin followed by his son Charlemagne.
Meanwhile, in AD 752, the Lombards, hostile to
the Pope, had occupied much of Italy. On the
other hand, Pepin and Charlemagne supported
the Papacy. In the year 799 an alliance was
completed between the Pope and the Emperor
of the Franks. This laid the foundation of the
Holy Roman Empire, the two-horned Beast of
the Earth of the chapter before us.
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History Lesson: The Holy Roman Empire
It originated with the coronation of Charlemagne
by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, AD 800, and
lasted until the abdication of Emperor Francis II
in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
 The Holy Roman Empire was a conscious
attempt to resurrect the Western Roman Empire,
considered to have ended with the abdication of
Romulus Augustulus in 476.

 -- from Wikipedia article “Holy Roman Empire”
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Revelation 16 – The Vials

This important chapter provides details lacking
in Revelation 11-15 where the “time of the end”
is summarized.
It outlines by symbol the
significance of the international events that
followed the French Revolution, and which have
played such a compelling part in the
development of current events that are leading
to Armageddon and the revelation of Christ and
the Redeemed in power. Perhaps no other
chapter of the Bible is more important than this
one in revealing the significance of current
events. …
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
The first five vials treat with judgments on
Europe, by which the Holy Roman Empire was
brought to an end. Then attention is diverted to
the Middle East, and the part that it is playing
and will continue to do so in developing the time
of the end is outlined. Finally, West and East are
brought together at the judgment of
Armageddon
which
precedes
the
final
outpouring of judgment on Babylon the Great.
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1st vial – French Revolution period ca. 1789
 2nd vial – Napoleon’s Middle East campaign, defeated by
British navy, ca. 1793
 3rd vial – Napoleon’s victories against the Alpine districts
and the north of Italy from 1796 onwards
 4th vial – The wars of Napoleon against Austria and the
so-called Holy Roman Empire ca. 1805
 5th vial – The beast referred to here is the papaldominated “Beast of the Earth”, known to history as the
Holy Roman Empire. With the defeat of its Austrian
Emperor during the 4th-vial period, and the humiliation
of the Pope representing its ecclesiastical head, the Holy
Roman Empire was dissolved and Napoleon’s
commission was completed.

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The Sixth Vial – Rev 16:12-16

12 The sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river,
the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the
way would be prepared for the kings from the east. 13
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and
out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of
the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for
they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go
out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them
together for the war of the great day of God, the
Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed
is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so
that he will not walk about naked and men will not see
his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the
place which in Hebrew is called Armaggedon.
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
12 The sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river,
the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the
way would be prepared for the kings from the east. 13
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and
out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of
the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for
they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go
out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them
together for the war of the great day of God, the
Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed
is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so
that he will not walk about naked and men will not see
his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the
place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
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The Sixth Vial – Upon the Euphrates
[Rev 16:12-16]

The sixth trumpet saw the inundation of
the Euphratean flood over the Middle
East; the sixth vial witnesses its complete
evaporation. The symbolism of this vial is
drawn from the historical account of the
taking of Babylon by Cyrus who is set
forth as a type of Christ. He diverted the
course of the River Euphrates, and
entered the city along the dried up
riverbed to take Babylon.
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“that the way of the kings of the east might
be prepared” [Rev 16:12]

Isaiah described Cyrus as a “king of the east” (Isa
41:2), and presented him as a type of the Messiah
(Isa 45:1-4). This forms the basis of the “drying
Euphrates” of the chapter before us. The political
“river Euphrates” has been partially dried up that
the antitypical Cyrus might attack Babylon the
Great. Christ will first reveal his power in Jerusalem,
and from that center will move out against “great
Babylon”. The political “river Euphrates,” the Turkish
Empire, was “dried up” from the Land of Promise,
the “way” of the verse before us, in 1917 when the
British under General Allenby drove the Turks from
the land.
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“three unclean spirits like frogs” [Rev 16:13]

In Eureka, Bro. Thomas shows that three frogs
constituted the heraldic symbol of the French
people, in contrast to the three lilies which was
the heraldic symbol of the Bourbon rulers of
France. As the Franks originated from the
marshy lands of Westphalia, the symbol of
“frogs” is appropriate to the origin of the people.
It is used as a common term to identify the
French even in modern times. The “frogs”
therefore represent the people of France in
contrast to its one-time rulers. …
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
Their voices were heard for the first time in
the noise agitation of Revolutionary principles
with their demand for Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity. However, John did not see three
frogs, but “spirits like frogs.” The term
“spirit” is used for teaching or doctrine. The
French Revolution developed a doctrine, or
teaching, peculiar to it in the Communistic
principles that swept Europe as a result. In
1848 these were consolidated by Karl Marx in
his Manifesto of the Communist Party which
has since so drastically changed the pattern
of world politics.
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Digression: The “Eastern Question” and the
Crimean War

Eastern Question, term used to describe the
diplomatic problems posed in Europe during the
19th and early 20th centuries regarding the
decline of the Ottoman Empire. The strategic
location of the Ottoman territories, which
included the Balkan Peninsula and the area that
is now Turkey, made it of great importance to
other European powers. Austria, Britain, and
Russia were the principal powers involved in the
debate about what was to become of the failing
empire. – From Encarta Encyclopedia
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
The Concert of Europe preserved the peace until the
outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853. Tensions
frequently arose, but they were managed. The
Greeks achieved their independence after a revolt
initiated in 1821 and the short Russo-Turkish War in
1828 and 1829. Although Russia had declared the
war, it quickly ended the conflict after Tsar Nicholas
I was convinced that Russia should preserve the
Ottoman Empire. When Muhammad Ali of Egypt
attacked the Ottomans in 1831, Russia came to the
aid of Mahmud II, the sultan of the Ottoman
Empire. The reward was the Treaty of UnkiarSkelessi (1833), which placed the Ottoman Empire
under the exclusive protection of the Russians and
gave them an advantage at the straits of Bosporus
and Dardanelles. …
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
Britain, in order to nullify any Russian gain,
sought to internationalize the regime at the
straits. After several years of tortuous
diplomacy, the European powers and the
Ottomans signed the Straits Convention in
1841. That agreement closed the straits to all
foreign warships when the sultan was at
peace, thus providing the other powers with
the same advantage as Russia. Crucial
consequences flowed from the Treaty of Paris
that ended the Crimean War in 1856. – From
Encarta Encyclopedia
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“out of the mouth of the beast” [Rev 16:13]

There are two “beasts” referred to in The Apocalypse:
the beast of the sea, and the beast of the earth. The
latter beast is referred to in this chapter (16:10), relating
it to the Holy Roman Empire and the Germanic
Federation. The headquarters of this was located in
Vienna, but with the fall of the Empire, the center of
Germanic influence shifted to Berlin. In any case, the
symbol points to Central Europe, which is today [ca.
1980] dominated by Soviet Russia and its Communistic
principles.
We can expect the “frog-like spirit” of
Communism to emerge from this center even more
virulently in the future to agitate the minds of men and
nations as indicated in the prophecy.
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“Armageddon” [Rev 16:16]

Brother Thomas suggests that the word is compounded of
three Hebrew words. The word bears the meaning of a
heap of sheaves in a valley for judgment. This is the very
description given by the prophecies for the nations
gathered together to Jerusalem at the time of the end
(Zech 14:1). A decisive battle will take place in the valley
of Jehoshaphat and there they will be threshed (Joel 3:2,
12, 14; Mic 4:11-12). … And here, too, according to
Daniel’s prophecy (Dan 11:45) the king of the north will do
so before “coming to his end with none to help him.”
Armageddon, therefore, is a symbolic name indicating that
the nations will be gathered together for the purpose of
divine judgment. The prophecies show that the place
where Christ will manifest his power against Gog will be at
Jerusalem, not Megiddo.
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Revelation 17

This chapter commences a more detailed description of
the formidable anti-Christ power briefly referred to in the
last chapter. John is conveyed into a wilderness where
he sees a profligate woman seated upon a beast, with a
caption on her head identifying her with Babylon the
Great. He describes her appearance as well as that of
the beast upon which she rides. The awful description
given of the woman of this chapter reveals the way in
which Rome is viewed by the Father and the Son.
Despite its glamour and the title of “Christian” with
which it has labeled itself, it is revealed as nothing more
than a whore, drunken by excess of pleasure and power.
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“sit upon a scarlet colored beast” [Rev 17:3]

As a “beast” it is identified with the “beast of the sea” of
Rev 13:1. The prophecy demands, therefore, a revival
of the political organization of the “beast” at the time of
the end, as guided and managed by the woman.
Current developments in Europe point to this. The
E.E.C. (or Common Market) is combining the nations of
Western Europe in a manner reminiscent of the Western
Roman Empire, and is creating an organization
answering to the “beast” of Rev 13. We may well expect
the influence of Rome to increase as suggested by this
prophecy.
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“when they behold the beast that was, and
is not, and yet is” [Rev 17:8]

The prophecy thus requires the reappearance in
the earth of a European system answering to
the “beast of the sea” of Rev 13. The system
must have individual autonomy for the powers
represented in it, answer to the ten kings, and
must yet be banded together, and guided by
Papal influence. The E.E.C. or Common Market
is currently developing such a system.
Moreover, the Common Market was brought into
existence by the Treaty of Rome in 1957. In this
manner, the “beast” is gradually forming.
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“and these make war with the Lamb”
[Rev 17:14]

This is after Armageddon. At Armageddon, the beast
(western Europe), the false prophet (papacy), and the
dragon (Russia in Constantinople) will comprise an
Eurasian confederacy (Ezek 38), that will invade the
Middle East, besiege and occupy Jerusalem (Dan 11:4045), to be destroyed by Christ (Zech 14:4). Thus will the
“dragon” (headed by Russia) be overthrown as a political
force. But it will not end opposition to the reign of
Christ. A European confederacy of Catholic countries
(the Apocalyptic “beast”) will oppose the rising power of
Israel under Christ and will “make war with the Lamb.”
Christ, however, will take the initiative. He will “rebuke
strong nations afar off” (Micah 4:3). His army will move
against Catholic Europe and bring it into subjection as
predicted in Rev 19:19-20.
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Revelation 20

Though the “beast” and the “false prophet,” have been
silenced, the moral regeneration of mankind still remains to
be accomplished, and with this, the complete and final
conquest of sin and death. This will occupy one thousand
years. Paul declares that Christ “must reign, till he hath put
all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death”. A perfect Kingdom will then be handed
over to God “that He may be all in all”. The chapter before us
outlines the means by which this is done. Though “the
dragon,” or political rebellion against the rule of God, will be
humbled at Armageddon, its influence will not be completely
destroyed until the end of the reign of Christ. Meanwhile,
having dealt with the “beast” and “false prophet,” Christ will
set about limiting the influence of the “dragon,” until the very
seat of its influence (the flesh) is swallowed up of life.
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“and he laid hold on the dragon” [Rev 20:2]

The “dragon” is used throughout The Apocalypse as a
symbol for sin manifested politically. To “lay hold” of
such implies the use of force. Vigorous methods will be
used by Christ and the Redeemed to restrain all political
opposition to this power during the millennium. At the
conclusion of that period, however, Christ will relax his
controls so as to enable men to independently
demonstrate their loyalty.
Some will seize the
opportunity to rebel, with the result that “the dragon,” or
organized political opposition to Christ, will reveal itself
again. A post-millennial Gog and Magog will develop to
re-enact the political folly exhibited by the pre-millennial
Gog as predicted in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38.
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“till the thousand years should be fulfilled”
[Rev 20:3]

A “thousand years” is a millennium, hence the
general use of the term. The thousand years of
peace described in this chapter, does not
commence at Christ’s return, but after he has
subdued the nations. Other parts of Scripture
suggest that the judgment of the household,
and the subduing of the nations, will occupy a
jubilee of fifty years. The peace of Christ’s
reign, once it is established, will not be disturbed
until the millennium is completed.
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Conclusion
CH understands Revelation as dealing
prophetically with the judgment upon the
religious-political alliance between
 “Rome” in its various historical manifestations;
and
 Apostate Christianity (i.e. Roman Catholicism,
with its mouthpiece “The Pope”) with its harlotdaughters (i.e. Orthodox Churches and
Protestant Churches)

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