The Book of Revelation
Chapter Twelve
Preface
During our time in earth’s history many of the events in this apocalyptical book are becoming increasingly clear (unsealed) to fundamental Bible scholars and students. Whereas many generally agree in interpretation, they often see the chronology of some of the events quite differently. For instance Jack Van Impe, a notable Bible expositor, holds that chapters 6 through 11 coincide with chapters 12 through 19:15, i.e., these two passages cover the same time span, even though they may reflect different events. The point is that these passages view this future historical timeframe from different angles, locations and perspectives. They also, as with parenthetical sections, clarify and amplify the events during the targeted period.
As stated previously, this study will not be dogmatic when it comes to the chronology of many of the events under consideration, with the exception of the major and identifiable divisions of:
1. The Church Age as represented by chapters 1-3.
2. The Rapture as represented by the passage 4:1, 2.
3. The Tribulation Period (in heaven and upon earth) as represented by the passage 4:3 through 19:10.
4. The Second Coming of Christ as seen in the passage 19:11 to 20:3.
5. The Millennium Reign of Christ upon the earth as seen in the passage 20:4-6.
6. The events immediately after the Millennium Reign (release of Satan, the final battle, Satan’s doom, the judgment of those who have rejected Christ) as seen in the passage 20:7-15.
7. The establishment of the new heaven, the new earth and eternity to come as seen in chapters 21 & 22.
Although a review of the events that occur in the two passages listed in the first paragraph of this study section suggests that Jack Van Impe has a defensible point of view, the interpretations of portions within the second passage (12 through 19:15) appear to exceed the timeframe as represented in the first passage (6 through 11). This study sees that the recap of the “woman’s” struggle and “birth of her child” and of the great and heavenly conflict of the ages as seen in verses 2-5 have their beginnings far before the Tribulation Period. In the final analysis, as previously stated, it is up to the reader to make a determination as to exactly where and when many of the events under consideration take place. As long as the student doesn’t miss or deny the main events and the purpose of the Apocalypse, then all will be well.
In this chapter the prominence of the nation Israel takes center stage. In fact several Bible scholars take the position that the Tribulation involves only the Jews, but this is not the position of this study; although, the nation Israel plays a most significant role in it -- as well as in all of history, for that matter. Starting with this chapter and going forward until the pouring out of the seven bowl-judgments and the final destruction of commercial Babylon and religious Babylon, a series of personages are introduced to the reader. They are representatives of persons, natural and supernatural, physical and spiritual, rulers and nations. The identification and clarification of these are essential for a proper understanding of Revelation. In fact, a proper understanding of the first person, the “woman,” will determine one’s entire interpretation of Bible prophecy.
In chapter 12 the reader will see that probably beginning in the middle of the Tribulation Period the nation Israel will be confronted with the worst wave of anti-Semitism the world has ever seen. In addition, the reader will see that the principal forms Satan uses to deceive mankind about God, and especially the Lord Jesus Christ, is religion and government.
Satan has infiltrated all governments and religions since the creation. He has used them to cause horrendous and massive suffering throughout history and to this present day. The estimate is that between 160-180 million people have been killed by the hand of government, not to mention the multitude that has been imprisoned and starved, just in the twentieth century alone. Heaped on this are the masses that have been tortured and murdered by various religions throughout the ages, even those who call themselves Christian.
Revelation 12:1, 2
A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
The first person to whom the reader is introduced is the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” John says that she is a “great and wondrous sign” that “appeared in heaven.”
The word “sign” (Gk: semeion, a revelation or indication of something else) appears for the first time in this book, indicating that the woman is not to be taken literally as a woman but represents something else. Although John sees this sign and others in “heaven,” where at the time of the viewing he resides, this does not limit the existence or the activity of the woman to the sphere of heaven.
Without belaboring the point, the reader may be certain that the “woman” does not represent the Virgin Mary or any person who has ever lived; although, the Catholic Church, “Christian Science” and various other religions and sects would have you believer otherwise.
The “woman” represents the nation Israel. The identifying marks of the woman are the sun, moon and the stars. These expressly point to the nation Israel, as we see in Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9-11:
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Jacob (who was renamed Israel by God -- Genesis 32:28) interpreted the sun, moon and stars to mean himself, Rachel and his twelve children. In addition to these indicators, the reader sees that the woman (Israel) is with child and about to give birth. In verse 5 it is seen that this child is none other than Jesus Christ.
It was out of Israel that God came in the person of Jesus Christ, was virgin born, lived a sinless life, was crucified by man and rose again on the third day. This is the confirming proof that the “woman” represents the nation Israel.
Isaiah 9:6 & 7, verses which are often quoted by Christians during the Christmas season but which have nothing to do with the Church, speak of Israel giving birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ: For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
And there are various other scriptural passages that clearly reveal that Jesus Christ was a Jew who came out of the nation Israel:
For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah . . .(Hebrews 7:14)
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. (Romans 9:5)
The Samaritan woman said to Him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:9)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And He will be their peace.
(Micah 5:2-5)
Before she [Israel] goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a Son. (Isaiah 66:7)
Before Israel goes through the Tribulation Period she had to give birth to her Son who came out of her city named Bethlehem. Before she goes through the coming pain she had to give birth to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is therefore concluded that the “woman” is the nation Israel.
Revelation 12:3, 4
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.
Here the reader is introduced to another sign, which introduces another personage. He sees an “enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.” The red dragon is clearly identified as Satan in verse 9, so the reader need not speculate regarding this symbol.
Satan (the devil) is a reality to this world and to the lives of human beings, believers and non-believers. Although the “world” would have you believe there is no literal “devil,” the Bible teaches that he is an evil personality that definitely exists. The Bible records a variety of “descriptive names” (but not a “proper name,” unless “Lucifer” is a proper name) applicable to Satan, such as:
| Serpent | Genesis 3:4 |
| Lucifer (Morning Star) | Isaiah 14:12 |
| Son of the Morning (Dawn) | Isaiah 14:12 |
| King of Tyre | Ezekiel 28:11 |
| Guardian Cherub | Ezekiel 28:16 |
| Old Serpent | Revelation 12:9 |
| Tempter | Matthew 4:3 |
| Wicked One | Matthew 13:19 |
| Beelzebub (Lord of the Flies or Fly-god) | Matthew 12:24 |
| Devil (Slanderer or Accuser) | Matthew 4:1; Revelation 12:9 |
| Prince of Devils | Matthew 12:24 |
| Murderer | John 8:44 |
| Prince of this World | John 14:30 |
| Satan (Adversary) | Revelation 12:9 |
| God of this World | 2 Corinthians 4:4 |
| Belial (Wickedness) | 2 Corinthians 6:15 |
| Angel of Light | 2 Corinthians 11:14 |
| Prince of the Power of the Air | Ephesians 2:2 |
| Ruler of Darkness | Ephesians 6:12 |
| Enormous Red Dragon | Revelation 12:3 |
| Accuser of Our Brothers | Revelation 12:10
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Although man often depicts Satan as a sinister and ugly looking person with hoofs, slanted eyes and horns; the reader should remember that he was created as a “model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:11) -- and appears as such to man. It is Satan’s wish that man portrays him as an ugly figure, because then he will never be recognized in his true -- most beautiful and enticing -- form. Think about it. But even though he may be quite beautiful and enticing, all his activity as it relates to this world and all its occupants throughout all of history and the future is evil. He tempts, he blinds, he accuses, he lies, he murders and he does all imaginable wickedness to keep man from coming to Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary. The reader will see that Satan’s foundational effort was and will continue to be the nation Israel. At first it was because he knew from the beginning that the coming Savior and King would be born out of Israel; and, second, he realizes that Israel is the “apple of God’s eye” -- God’s “chosen people.”
Satan is depicted with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads. The seven-crowned heads probably refer to the seven stages of the Roman Empire, the embodiment of evil and corrupted government. Its influence has carried through the centuries to the governments of today. Many hold that Roman government or Caesarean imperialism is in its sixth stage (head) and today covers much of earth’s population. Any dictatorial government belongs to this category. The ten horns probably refer to the ten kings who will be dominant during the Tribulation Period, from whom the Antichrist will receive his power and authority. A study of Daniel 7 would also be helpful at this time, particularly the portion dealing with Daniel’s dream of the “fourth beast.” In Daniel the reader will find that the “ten horns” of the “fourth beast” represent the ten kings (heads of nations) who will grow out of the Roman Empire and exist during the Tribulation Period. Another horn, “a little one,” will also arise and uproot or subdue three of the other horns. This “little horn” will be the Antichrist who will bring the other horns or nations together to follow the will of Satan, to crush the nation Israel and bring the world under his dominion for the purpose of worshipping him.
As previously mentioned, nothing has caused more havoc and evil to humanity than government and religion. Keep in mind that Christianity is not “religion.” It is a “relationship” or “union” with Jesus Christ. It is not “organization;” it is an “organism.” But Satan, through governments, is the cause of mass murders, wars, famine and suffering beyond human comprehension. During the Tribulation Period Satan will pull out all stops as he manipulates the governments of this earth.
The passage stating, “His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth,” may refer to events associated with the fall of Satan as described in Isaiah 14. It also may refer to his commission of his evil angels and their transport to earth for the sole purpose of stopping the birth of Jesus Christ out of the nation Israel. Although Satan’s minions may be limited to the atmospheric heaven around the earth, he, himself, continues to have access to the throne of God to accuse believers.
The last part of this passage shows Satan’s preoccupation to stop the birth of Christ. He stood ready to “devour it” the moment it was born. This reflects his attitude since Genesis 3:15, when he learned that the “seed of the woman” (Jesus Christ) would “crush his head.” This promise was given to humanity, predicting eventual deliverance from the domination of Satan. As a response, Satan enacted the “the conflict of the ages,” attempting to stamp out the “seed of the woman.” He worked through Herod at the time of the birth of Christ to kill all Jewish babies up to two years of age (Matthew 2:16), just as he attempted to kill the baby Moses (Exodus 1:15). Even before this he had Cain murder Abel (Genesis 4), he had his angelic followers pollute the human race (Genesis 6), he attempted to destroy all of Israel during their departure from Egypt (Exodus 14), he had Haman issue a death-decree for all of Israel (Esther 3:8-15) and on and on throughout history. And in rage due to his failures, Satan continues his efforts to wipe the nation Israel from the face of the earth. Along with Israel, he has always made a concerted effort to rid the world of the Church, i.e., true believers in Jesus Christ. From the propagation of Islam, to the Dark Ages, to Hitler, to the creation of the many false religions worldwide, Satan has been doing everything within his power to rid the world of God’s chosen people (Israel) and all true believers. His efforts will come to a climax during the Tribulation Period. Satan will work through the Antichrist to convince the world to worship him. He will unleash all his fury and evil on those that will not bow down to him and take his mark.
Revelation 12:5
She gave birth to a Son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to His throne.
The “male child” is Jesus Christ. Remember that this book is the “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1) and this is just one more indication of this. We see Him clearly in this child by means of (1) His authority and power and (2) His ascension into heaven.
1. Only Jesus will rule all nations with an iron scepter.
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, "You are My Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
(Psalms 2:7-9 - underlining mine)
In Acts 4 the persecuted Christians quoted Psalm 2, identifying that the One to rule with an iron scepter is Jesus Christ. The message is clear in both Testaments; Jesus Christ will come to put down all enmity, all opposition and all rebellion on the earth. He will come to establish peace, an objective mankind has never been able to achieve. He will not do it through negotiations, through compromise or consensus. No! He will do it by crushing all opposition to pieces with His iron scepter.
2. Only Jesus has ascended up to heaven and God’s throne.
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
(Acts 1:9)
(See also Psalms 68:18; Luke 24:51; Hebrews 4:14; 9:24; 12:2; 1Peter 3:22)
The book of Revelation is the unveiling of the ascended Christ, the glorified Christ, the Christ who is coming in glory, power and authority. Here in this book we see little emphasis on the death and resurrection of Christ, but we see much of His ascension and His second coming to earth in His kingly power and authority.
This settles the issue regarding the identity of the “woman” in this passage. The “woman” is Israel from whom clearly Christ came. While the Church came from Jesus Christ, He, according to the flesh, came from Israel (Genesis 12: 1-3; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 9:4, 5; Galatians 3:16; 4:4, 5).
Revelation 12:6
The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
Verse 5 and 6 parallels the seventy weeks (or “sevens”) of Daniel, which predicts 483 years until “Messiah the Prince shall be cut off” and then, with no mention of the Church Age, goes right into the Jewish seven-year Tribulation Period, thereby completing the seventy weeks of years. Between verse 5 and verse 6 the entire Church or Christian dispensation of approximately 2,000 years takes place, although it is omitted in this passage.
During the intense part (second half) of the Tribulation Period, otherwise known as the Great Tribulation (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21), either Israel or a remnant of Israel will be protected by God. They will flee into the desert to a place prepared for her by God. Here God will protect them for 1,260 days (three and a half years). Some believe that this place will be the rock-hewn city of Petra, but this is merely supposition. No one knows, and it is not revealed in God’s Word.
Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
The reader is now introduced to another very important personage, the archangel Michael. The two angels whose “proper names” are given in God’s Word are Gabriel and Michael. It appears that Gabriel is the “announcing angel,” and Michael is the “commander of the heavenly hosts.” Michael is the angel specifically assigned by God to work for the protection of Israel as a nation (Daniel 12:1; also see Daniel 10:13, 21 and Jude 9). It is noted that Satan, a fallen angel, has many “descriptive names,” and may be considered as the third angel within God’s Word who has a “proper name,” i.e., if one takes “Lucifer” as a proper name.
In this passage we see Michael and the heavenly hosts fighting against Satan (the “dragon”) and his evil “fallen” angels. It is conjectured by various Bible scholars that this battle may have started just after the Rapture and continued up until the mid-point of the Tribulation. One may only guess whether this is a brief battle near the mid-point of the Tribulation or a longer campaign ending at that time. Nevertheless, Satan and his hosts will not prevail. Instead of achieving any success whatsoever, Satan and his angels will be hurled out of heaven and onto earth. Up until this defeat at the hands of Michael and the heavenly hosts, Satan had access to God for the purpose of accusing and slandering believers (Job 1-2; Zechariah 3:1, 2; Luke 22:31). Now he is cast, along with his angelic followers, to earth. He will have no more personal access to God; in fact, he will no longer be permitted in heaven, atmospheric or otherwise.
It is noteworthy to review the three descriptive names assigned to the “dragon,” which we’ve previously discussed. They follow:
1. Old Serpent -- A reference back to the Garden of Eden. A kindred word to “old” is “beginning,” which Jesus used to refer to Satan as a murderer and a liar in John 8:44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2. Devil -- This is from the Greek word diabolos, which means “slanderer or accuser.” He is in fact specifically accused of this in vs. 10. As believers, we have an “accuser” in heaven who, prior to being cast out during the Tribulation Period, is slandering us before God. He, through his minions, continually watches us and is quick to call God’s attention to our every sin. Because of this we need an Advocate before God, and, thankfully, we have one -- our Lord Jesus Christ. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 John 2:1)
3. Satan -- Here the Greek word Satanas (transliterated from the Hebrew word Satan) means “adversary,” or “enemy.” From his fall that was due to pride, he has been God’s adversary, as well as the enemy of every believer. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
To sum up the list of his names, this passage describes Satan as the one who leads the whole world astray. He started in the Garden with Eve, and he’s been at it ever since. How does he do it? Through lies, misrepresentations, half-truths, deceit, discolorations, compliments and every other device that calls attention away from God’s Word. He uses pride and the doctrine of works, which he administers through religion and government. He never rests. He never tires. He never gives up.
Revelation 12:10-12
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."
A loud voice in heaven declares four marvelous coming attractions, i.e., the salvation of our God, the power of our God, the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ. This is a jubilant declaration in anticipation of the eventual establishment of the Kingdom of Christ, which action is set in motion by the banishment of Satan from heaven. The fact that Satan will no longer be able to accuse believers will be a cause for great rejoicing, because it shows progression to the final result -- the Second Coming of Christ, His 1,000 year earthly kingdom, the final judgment of Satan and unbelievers and, finally, eternity.
It is reinforced here that the activity that preoccupies Satan day and night as he parades before God’s throne is the continuous accusation of believers. This has been going on since the fall of man at creation. But believers are able to overcome Satan by the following sources of victory:
1. The Blood of the Lamb. This is a reference to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, and this event is the foundation for victory over evil for all mankind, be it from within (sin nature) or without (Satan’s activities). Christians must never shrink from proclaiming the “blood of Christ.” A reading of the New Testament shouts out the efficacious value of the blood (the work of Christ on the cross) over and over again. See also Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14, 20; Hebrews 9:20, 22; 10:19; 1 Peter 1:2;, 19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14.
2. The Word of Their Testimony. Once anchored by the “blood of Jesus Christ,” a primary way to overcome Satan is by a decisive testimony for Jesus. If in fact Christ is centered in your life, you can do nothing but this. Not only is this talking about a vocal testimony before a sympathetic church group, but it also means a visual testimony of your life before a disbelieving world. Not only does it mean testifying when life is easy (such as in America), but it also means testifying when you may possibly lose your head -- literally -- for standing for Jesus Christ (such as in Iran or China). Matthew 10:33
3. The Proper Value of Life. This is represented by the words, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. God’s Word clearly teaches (1) we are not to unduly care for our lives (Matthew 6:25), (2) to save your life, you first must lose it for the sake of Christ (Matthew 10:39), (3) our lives do not consist of the abundance of our possessions (Luke 12:15) and (4) our life is but a temporary vapor or mist (James 4:14). Essentially, you defeat Satan by placing Christ and His values first and your life and all else second, third, fourth, ad infinitum.
This passage ends with an instruction to the heavens and those who occupy them to rejoice over these events, but then it pronounces a “woe” (the third “woe”) unto the earth and the sea because Satan is now cast down to them and he is in deep rage over the fact that he knows his time is now limited. After all the years of trying to defeat God and Christ, Satan realizes that in just a brief time his influence over man will end and he will then be locked away in the Abyss for 1,000 years and then cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity. He now, in the short time left, will turn his fury toward the earth and all who occupy it, but especially the nation Israel.
Revelation 12:13-17
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Once Satan fully realizes he has been cast down to earth, in his rage he will personally take command of all evil activities upon earth. These will especially be directed toward God’s chosen people, the nation Israel. His hatred for God is now concentrated toward the Jews. All through history he has not been able to stamp them out. Now he knows he has but a short time to finish the job.
But again he is thwarted in his objective. Israel is given “two wings of a great eagle,” so she may travel to a place of protection prepared for her by God. This is a reference to Israel’s past deliverance from Egypt in Exodus 19:4, You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Although it is conjecture, it appears that the “eagle’s wings” denotes God’s power and protection as they relate to His people. Just as He delivered them from Egypt and protected them by His power during their journey, He will once again do the same during the Tribulation Period. In this “protective place” Israel will be out of Satan’s reach, and they will enjoy God’s protection for a “time, times and half a time,” i.e., for 42 months or three and a half years, which equates to the second half of the Tribulation Period.
While Israel is fleeing to this protective enclave, Satan will spew forth a torrent of water like a river in hopes of her destruction. The use of the term “water,” as in the Old Testament, may well indicate that Satan will send forth a vast army to overtake Israel in her flight. But God protects his people. Just as He had the sea swallow the pursuing Egyptians in the book of Exodus, He will have the earth open its “mouth” (earthquake) and consume this pursuing army. This will further enrage Satan. He will then turn his attention to the remnant of Israel that remain outside of God’s protective fortress. These may well be the 144,000 witnesses who are still attempting to bring the world to Christ, for they truly obey the commands of God and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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