Saturday, September 29, 2018

THE TRUTH ABOUT HELL THAT THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW (an 11-page article with 9 brief sections)




THE TRUTH ABOUT HELL THAT THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

(Read the PDF version here.)


Topics covered in this article:

1. Introduction
2. The Lake of Fire
3. The Bottomless Pit
4. The Suffering of Souls in Hell
5. Why Must Hell Exist
6. Worms in Hell
7. Fire in Hell and Tormentors
8. Why Hell Is Eternal
9. Conclusion

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1. Introduction

Hell is a real place that exists in a different dimension than the realm we experience on a day to day basis. It is a place filled with darkness, fire, terror, and endless torment. The Lord Jesus warned us about it quite frequently in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. King David wrote about it in the Psalms. The apostle Paul wrote about it in his epistles to the New Testament Churches. God had prophets write about it in places such as the book of Ezekiel, chapters 31 and 32.

It is an abode of Satan’s demonic hordes and a place of extreme heat. JOB 28:5 says: “[5.] As for the earth, out of it cometh bread : and under it is turned up as it were fire.” [end quote].

The Holy Spirit, using the apostle Paul, wrote this truth in Galatians 6:7-8: "7. Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." [end quote] Those who sow to the flesh will end up without life everlasting. They will only receive corruption in Hell.

But, those who sow to God’s Spirit will have life everlasting. Sowing means to walk according to. If we walk according to the flesh, and don’t turn to the loving and holy Abba God, we will reap corruption in Hell. But, if we walk according to Abba Father God’s Spirit, and repent from sin (forsake it) when we are convicted of it, we will be forgiven.

Fellowship and intimacy (close friendship and harmony) with Abba God is the key to overcome sin and to have meaning, purpose, and happiness in life. Sin is not fellowship with Abba God, but rebellion against Him. So, we must turn to Abba Father God, rest in what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, and obey what our loving Abba God is directing us to do.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord, we urge you to do so now. Confess that you are a sinner, be willing to turn from sin (looking to God for help), and believe on the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is God the Son. Only Jesus Christ, by His blood that He shed on the cross, can save you from sin and can give you eternal life, healing, and cleansing from sin, and righteousness (completeness). Turn to Jesus today. You never know how long you may live. (Read more about salvation at this link: https://exploringchristianity1.blogspot.com/p/salvation-through-jesus-christ_10.html )

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2. The Lake of Fire

There is a place in Hell called the Lake of Fire in the book of Revelation, chapter 20, verse 14. It is a place of eternal torment which will contain all the souls who do not have their names written down in the Lamb’s book of life, in Heaven.


REVELATION 20:11-15 says:

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away ; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books were opened : and another book was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them : and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." [end quote]

This is not speaking of those who did not ‘earn’ Heaven by their works. Salvation is not by our works of righteousness. TITUS 3:4-5 says: "[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost ;" [end quote]

This is speaking of people who have rejected the only way of salvation, which is Jesus Christ. Some may have once known Jesus, but they forsook Him like Hebrews chapter 10, chapter 6, and chapter 3 all say. Let’s give some quotes from the Bible to see more about this.

HEBREWS 3:8-14 says:

"Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness : when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart ; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today ; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end ;" [end quote]

Did you notice the words “… Take heed, brethren, … evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. … lest any of you be hardened …” [end quote] [?] The writer of Hebrews is addressing the ‘brethren,’ who are Christians. He is saying that we can only partake of Christ if we hold to the Truth to the very end.

Then, in chapter 10, it speaks about one who has been made holy (sanctified) by Jesus Christ’s blood trampling underfoot Jesus Christ and having spite for the Holy Spirit and God’s grace.  

HEBREWS 10:26-31 says:

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses : of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace ? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." [end quote]

Notice the words “… and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace ? … The Lord shall judge his people.  …” [end quote] [?]

REVELATION 21:7-8 says:

"[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things ; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. [8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone : which is the second death." [end quote]

Notice the words “He that overcometh shall inherit all things … But the … unbelieving … abominable … idolaters … all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone …” [end quote] [?] Those who overcome are sons of God who inherit God’s blessings. But, those who go after sin partake of the lake of fire. And, this is eternal torment. (See Revelation 14:9-11).

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3. The Bottomless Pit

Related to the subject of Hell is the mention of a bottomless pit. The words “bottomless pit” appear in the King James Bible at least 7 times. Revelation chapter 9, verses 1 through 3, mentions about how a fallen angel opens up a bottomless pit with a key. And, he releases swarms of demonic creatures that oppress ungodly men for five months. They sting them with scorpion tails during that time.

This bottomless pit is a shaft that goes from the surface of the earth down into Hell. It is bottomless in the sense that it is a vertical shaft with an opening at the top and bottom. This entrance into Hell normally is invisible to the human eye, but during the end times, it will be revealed to the people on the earth at that time. The Bible indicates, in 2 Corinthians 12:2,  that there are at least three heavens.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:2

"[2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell ; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell : God knoweth ;) such a one caught up to the third heaven." [end quote]

We exist in the first heaven. In the second heaven, which is invisible to us, the earth has tunnel entrances which connect the surface of the earth down to Hell which lies far below, deep in the earth. We know that Hell is deep in the earth from Bible passages such as Ezekiel 14:9,15 and Ezekiel 31:16-17. Ezekiel 31:16 says, in part: "... when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit : ..." "... in the nether parts of the earth." And, Ezekiel 31:17 says, in part: "They also went down into hell with him, unto them that be slain with the sword ; ..." [end quote]

So, the bottomless pit is a tunnel through which demons bring the souls of the dead from the earth down into Hell, which is in the lower parts of the earth, in the second heaven. Hell then, is a cavern system deep in the earth, in the second heaven.


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4. The Suffering of Souls in Hell

The Bible teaches that Hell is not a place of joy or peace. Rather, it is a place of torment and intense suffering that goes on forever. In Proverbs chapter 5, verse 11, shows how a man, who committed fornication and adultery is now in Hell (Prov. 5:5 and 5:11). And, his soul-body is being consumed in the fires of Hell. PROVERBS 5:11 says: “11. and thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,” [end quote.]

The Bible teaches that the soul itself has a bodily form. It can feel pain, can speak, can think, and is fully conscience and aware while in Hell. The soul-body is consumed, but this destruction is everlasting as 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says. The souls in Hell “… shall be punished with everlasting destruction …” [end quote]

2 THESSALONIANS 1:7-9

"7. and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8. in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : 9. who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power ;" [end quote]

The soul-body will be destroyed with fire, regenerated, and then be destroyed again. This process will repeat forever. Sin is a terrible thing which we must look to God for help to forsake. Knowing God the Father intimately through Jesus Christ is how we forsake sin.

And, Proverbs 5:3-5 shows how sin (and a literal harlot) leads people into Hell.

PROVERBS 5:3-5

3. "For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil : 4. but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5. Her feet go down to death ; her steps take hold on hell." [end quote]

The man who is foolish enough to go after the strange woman will die and find himself in Hell.

PROVERBS 5:20-22

20. "And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger ? 21. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. 22. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins." [end quote]

PROVERBS 5:23

23. "He shall die without instruction ; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." [end quote]

While in Hell, the adulterer mourns and says, “… How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof ….”  [end quote]

PROVERBS 5:8-12

8. "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house : 9. lest thou give thine honor unto others, and thy years unto the cruel : 10. lest strangers be filled with thy wealth ; and thy labors be in the house of a stranger ; 11. and thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12. and say, How have I hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof ;" [end quote]

Regarding the specifics of the suffering, Revelation 14:10-11 says that “… fire and brimstone …” [end quote] shall be used to torment the soul in Hell. It also says that the torment is forever. In the first part of verse 11, it says: “[11.] and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day nor night …” [end quote].

There is no rest or sleep in Hell. Soul sleep is a lie. The soul that dies a believer in Jesus goes to live in Heaven. The Apostle Paul wrote that to be absent from the body is to be present with Jesus (See 2 Corinthians 5:8). But, the soul that dies, having either forsaken the Lord Jesus or having never received Him in the beginning, will be awake in Hell, and in extreme pain. (Note: Ezekiel 32:21 and Ezekiel 32:31 show how souls in Hell can speak and see while in Hell.)

REVELATION 14:10-11

"10. the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb : 11. and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." [end quote]

The Lord Jesus said that the torment in Hell will be with fire that cannot be quenched and worms that cannot die. He repeated this following phrase many times: “… to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched : 46. where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” [end quote]


MARK 9:45-46

“45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off : it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched : 46. where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” [end quote]

In Luke 16, Jesus told a true story of a rich man who did not love God. The rich man died and went to Hell. He found himself in very hot flames near the edge of Hell not far from a chasm which separated Hell from an Old Testament paradise, which is often called Abraham’s Bosom. After Jesus died, Jesus descended into Abraham’s Bosom to preach to the spirits in prison (See 1 Peter 3:18-19). Then, Jesus led captivity captive and brought the Old Testament saints up to Heaven itself (See Ephesians 4:6-10 and Psalm 68:18). But, in Hell, this ungodly rich man suffered from extreme thirst and from intense, hot flames.

LUKE 16:23-24

"23. and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for I am tormented in this flame." [end quote]

He could not relieve his thirst, and he could not be delivered from the fire, which everlastingly consumed his soul-body.


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5. Why Must Hell Exist?

Hell exists because sin cannot enter Heaven. Sin would contaminate Heaven like how a dead body would contaminate food. God cannot allow sin to enter Heaven. So, a hardened person who despises God and His Holy Word (the Bible) cannot enter Heaven. But, since Heaven is only Heaven because of God dwelling there and beautifying it, any place that is beautiful has a touch of God’s love. But, Hell is not beautiful at all.

Jesus refers to part of Hell as outer darkness in (See Matthew 22:13). There are regions of Hell that are completely pitch black where souls suffer great pain and agony. They gnash or grind their teeth together in pain and anger, and weep over how they have to suffer. But, their suffering is due to the fact that sin must be destroyed.

Fire purifies by destroying that which causes disease. The rotting corpse of a deceased cow is burned to remove its contamination of the ground where it rests. The Bible teaches that Satan’s body will be devoured and brought to ashes by a fire, in Ezekiel 28:18. The same happens to souls in Hell. But, as we said earlier, the soul-body is regenerated only to be destroyed again. This process continues for eternity (Matthew 25:46). (Matthew 25:46 -- "46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal.")

Ezekiel 28:14-15

"14. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth ; and I have set thee so : thou wast upon the holy mountain of God ; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."

Ezekiel 28:18

"18. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic ; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee." [end quote]

Those who follow Satan’s ways will be burned to ashes in Hell, only to be regenerated for more destruction. God has created men and women in His image (Genesis 1:27). God can never cease to exist (Psalm 90:2). So, men and women can never cease to exist. The fires of Hell remove the rottenness of the sinful soul-body, but these fires don’t change their hardened hearts. So, they will never be made holy by the fires of Hell. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can make a person holy and perfect so that they can enter Heaven (See the book of Romans).

The lepers, in the Old Testament laws, had to remain outside the encampment of the children of Israel (Leviticus 13:44-46). Lepers could not live within the camp since they were declared unclean. This is a picture of how a diseased body, which has been corrupted by sin, and is not saved by Jesus Christ, cannot enter Heaven. Fire removes the matter which is corrupted by sin, but fire cannot change the calloused heart that doesn’t desire God or His ways.

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6. Worms in Hell

Worms feed on decaying flesh, in the natural world. But, in Hell, worms feed on the decaying, sinful soul-bodies of the “living” dead. Fully awake and cognizant, the souls in Hell are covered with worms and are eaten alive, like how the evil, proud King Herod, in the book of Acts, chapter 12, was eaten of worms while he was still alive.

ACTS 12:21-22

"21. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man."

ACTS 12:23

"23. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory : and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." [end quote]

At least three times (in Mark chapter 9), Jesus Christ mentioned about how worms will torment people in Hell, and will not die.

MARK 9:42-48 (emphasis added)

"42. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off : it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched : 44. where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off : it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched : 46. where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out : it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire : 48. where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." [end quote]

We must get rid of what ever it is that leads us into sin! What spiritually, morally offends us is what causes us to be a spiritual or moral offender. This is radical. Jesus used the strong statement of cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye to show that forsaking the temptation to sin is very important.

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7. Fire in Hell and Tormentors

As we saw earlier, there is a literal fire in Hell. It is not a metaphor. It is literal fire that consumes a literal soul-body, in Hell. The man, in Proverbs chapter 5, who went to a harlot, and did not repent (forsake it), and did not seek to know God, cries out in Hell, and says: “… How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof ; …” [end quote]. His body is being consumed by fire in the same way that the ungodly rich man of Luke 16 suffered (and is still suffering) in Hell.

Let’s look again at Proverbs 5:8-12 and Revelation 14:10-11.

PROVERBS 5:8-12

8. "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house : 9. lest thou give thine honor unto others, and thy years unto the cruel : 10. lest strangers be filled with thy wealth ; and thy labors be in the house of a stranger ; 11. and thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12. and say, How have I hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof ;" [end quote]

The phrase “… thy years unto the cruel : …” can refer to demons that torment people in Hell. In Matthew 18:32-35, Jesus mentioned how a deceased, unforgiving person will be placed under the cruel hand of a “tormentor”. That tormentor is a demon. Demons torment people in Hell, and that is what Jesus taught.

MATTHEW 18:32-35

“32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me : 33. shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee ? 34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” [end quote]

As we have already seen, the torment is eternal because the hardened soul in Hell can never truly repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 12, Jesus Christ taught that a man who turns back to sin will be worse off than when he was not saved. He will be invaded by demonic spirits. In Hell, that same man will be tormented by the demons.

MATTHEW 12:43-45

43. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out ; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there : and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” [end quote]

Revelation 14:10-11 says that “… fire and brimstone …” [end quote] shall be used to torment the soul in Hell. And, it says that the torment is forever. Souls in Hell never rest. In the first part of verse 11, it says: “[11.] and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day nor night …” [end quote].

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8. Why Hell Is Eternal

As we saw earlier, the soul and spirit of men and women are eternal just like the souls and spirits of angels are eternal. We are made in the image of God, and God is eternal. He cannot cease to exist. Wicked people cannot enter Heaven because they would corrupt it. Paul wrote that a little leaven leavens a whole lump [of dough] in Galatians 5:9. He was speaking of false teaching and how it harms the Church and the individual.

GALATIANS 5:8-9

"8. This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." [end quote]

And so, sin would corrupt all of Heaven if God allowed sin to enter. When God spoke with Satan, in the book of Job, God was outside the holy third heaven. He was in the second heaven where Satan and his fallen angels battle with God’s angels (See Revelation 12:7, Daniel 10:13, and Ephesians 6). Lepers were not allowed to enter the encampment of the children of Israel (Leviticus 13:44-46) as a picture of sin not being allowed into Heaven.

And, REVELATION 21:27 says: “27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie : but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” [end quote]

Since nothing that is sinful can enter the third Heaven, it is true, then, that there must be a place for the eternal souls of men, who have rejected Jesus, to go. That place cannot be full of peace, and joy, and happiness because whatever God touches is made beautiful and holy. God’s holy presence is withdrawn from Hell completely. God is everywhere at once, but God is not given the glory in Hell. So, there is no glory or beauty there.

In addition, the souls in Hell have rejected God, and since God is Love (1 John 4:16), they have rejected the SOURCE of love, joy, happiness, and peace. Their realm of existence, then, is devoid of all love, joy, happiness, and peace. Like their evil hearts, it is a place of wickedness, fear, hatred, cursing, and torment. But, God cannot permit sin to not be dealt with, so He has fire to consume the sinful soul-bodies of the people in Hell.

Since their soul-bodies and spirits are eternal, the fire has to continue to consume their soul-bodies. And, their soul bodies have to continue to regenerate only to be destroyed by fire. The process repeats itself forever. It is not God’s preferred choice. Rather, it is what God ordains for wicked people who refuse to receive His gracious offer of salvation, and who refuse to seek Him as He continues to call out to them throughout their natural lives before they die.

9. Conclusion

The nature of Hell is so horrible that many Christians do not want to speak about it, but Jesus taught about it often. He spoke of it because it is a real place with real torment that is eternal. God does not want anyone to perish in Hell, but He has created us in His own image with a free will. We can choose who we will serve and who we will love: either ourselves and the world or God. We cannot serve two. The self must die so that Christ Jesus can manifest His loving nature and goodness through us.

The Lord Jesus said these powerful words in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9...

LUKE 9:23-26 (emphasis added)

“23. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it : but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away ? 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be  ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” [end quote]



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