People can be described as having spiritual gifts until death

Summary:

Spiritual gifts can be described as being given to those who are in Christ. 

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List of spiritual gifts:
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In the Bible, there is evidence that people can be described as HAVING SPIRITUAL GIFTS UNTIL DEATH.

For example:

1) Judas the Iscariot was an APOSTLE (which is a spiritual gift) and was only replaced AFTER his death.

2) The language used for spiritual gifts indicates that a spiritual gift can be GIVEN (1 Timothy 4:14), RECEIVED (1 Peter 4:10), such that someone can be described as HAVING (Romans 12:6) that gift as it IS IN THEM (2 Timothy 1:6) from that point on. 

3) The language used for spiritual gifts indicate that a spiritual gift can be PLACED (1 Corinthians 12:28) in the church. The PLACE can be assigned to SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS THAT ONE WOULD KNOW WHO THEY ARE. Someone PLACED can even be REPLACED (Acts 1:25) after they die. 

4) The language used for spiritual gifts indicate that HAVING a spiritual GIFT can be likened to HAVING a specific FUNCTION as an individual body part of a body. And it may be inferred that this FUNCTION remains until death (unless conditionally unable to exercise it). 

5) Being able to have spiritual gifts until death would NOT imply that therefore the spiritual gifts would necessarily BE IN OPERATION ALL THE TIME until death, as there can be CONDITIONS to be ABLE TO EXERCISE THEM (that may not always be present). 

6) What about the manifestation of the Spirit, isn't that different in the sense of being a temporary event given temporarily? 

➔ The "MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) can be given TEMPORARILY to someone and then never again, however it can ALSO be given in such a way that the person can be described as HAVING it in a more permanent way as a gift.

7) Doesn't the Spirit of God simply give temporarily the spiritual gifts as It wants? 

➔ The "SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:7) gives spiritual gifts "JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11). However there is evidence that this would NOT necessitate that therefore the Spirit of God WILLS to give the spiritual gifts necessarily TEMPORARILY. 

8) It is important to believe that someone can be described as having a spiritual gift until death (instead for example of only having them temporarily for a limited season and then not have it anymore), because this knowledge can lead to more things practically. 

You can find more details below:

1) Judas the Iscariot as an apostle only replaced AFTER his death:

Judas the Iscariot was an APOSTLE (which is a spiritual gift) and was only replaced AFTER his death.

It is written about Judas the Iscariot that he was an apostle (which is a spiritual gift): "the names (of) the twelve APOSTLES are these, first, Simon (the (one) being-called Peter) and Andrew (his brother), and James (the (son of) Zebedee) and John (his brother), Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew (the tax-collector), James (the (son of) Alphaeus) and Lebbaeus (the (one) was surnamed Thaddaeus), Simon (the Cananaean) and JUDAS THE ISCARIOT (the (one) also having-handed Him over)" (Matthew 10:2-4).

Yet it is only AFTER the death of Judas the Iscariot that his apostleship was replaced, as it is written about "Judas" (Acts 1:16) that "having-become-prostrate, he-burst-open in the middle and all his inward-parts spilled-out" (Acts 1:18) and so AFTER his death "they-put (forward) two: Joseph (the (one) being-called Barsabbas, who was-called Justus), and Matthias. And having-prayed, they-said, “You, Lord, heart-knower (of) all, appoint (the) one whom You-chose from these two TO-TAKE THE PLACE (OF) THIS MINISTRY AND APOSTLESHIP FROM WHICH JUDAS TURNED-ASIDE TO-GO TO (HIS) OWN PLACE”. And they-gave lots (for) them. And the lot fell upon Matthias, AND HE-WAS-ADDED with the eleven APOSTLES" (Acts 1:23-26).

2) Spiritual gifts: GIVEN, RECEIVED, PLACED, HAVING, IS in you:

The language used for spiritual gifts indicates that a spiritual gift can be GIVEN (1 Timothy 4:14) at a finite past point in time to an individual, then RECEIVED (1 Peter 4:10) at a finite past point in time by that individual, then the individual can be described as HAVING (Romans 12:6) that gift presently continually such that the gift IS IN THEM (2 Timothy 1:6) from that point on. 

You can find more details below:

Given (& in you):

Someone can be described as having been GIVEN a spiritual gift. For example: "Do not pay-no-concern (for) the GIFT in you, which WAS-GIVEN (to) you through (a) prophecy with (the) laying-on (of) the hands (of) the council-of-elders" (1 Timothy 4:14). 

➔ The word for "WAS-GIVEN" (1 Timothy 4:14) here is in the AORIST INDICATIVE in ancient Greek manuscripts, indicating a COMPLETED PAST, suggesting that once a spiritual gift has been given... it is a COMPLETED PAST EVENT for this spiritual gift (a spiritual gift does NOT need to be continuously given). 

Once a gift "WAS-GIVEN" (1 Timothy 4:14), it can then be described as PRESENTLY BEING "IN YOU" (1 Timothy 4:14), as Paul wrote to PRESENTLY "NOT PAY-NO-CONCERN (for) the GIFT IN YOU, which WAS-GIVEN (to) you" (1 Timothy 4:14). 

Received:

Someone can be described as having RECEIVED a spiritual gift. For example: "each RECEIVED (a) gift" (1 Peter 4:10).

➔ The word for "RECEIVED" (1 Peter 4:10) here is in the AORIST INDICATIVE in ancient Greek manuscripts, indicating a COMPLETED PAST, suggesting that once spiritual gifts have been given and received...  it is a COMPLETED PAST EVENT for those spiritual gifts (they do NOT need to be continuously received). 

Having:

Someone can be described as HAVING a spiritual gift. For example: "HAVING different gifts according-to the grace having-been-given (to) us" (Romans 12:6). 

➔ The word for "HAVING" (Romans 12:6) here is in the PRESENT TENSE in ancient Greek manuscripts, suggesting that once spiritual gifts have been given and received, someone is then PRESENTLY CONTINUALLY HAVING those spiritual gifts. 

Is in you:

Paul wrote to Timothy: "I-am-reminding you to-be-rekindling the GIFT (of) God which IS IN YOU through the laying-on (of) my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6). 

➔ Paul wrote to Timothy that about the GIFT which "IS IN YOU" (2 Timothy 1:6). 

The verb used for the gift which "IS" (2 Timothy 1:6) in Timothy here is in the PRESENT TENSE in ancient Greek manuscripts, suggesting that once this spiritual gift had been given and received, the gift IS PRESENTLY CONTINUALLY in Timothy. 

This was also linked directly TO A COMPLETED PAST EVENT when this gift had been given "through the laying-on (of) my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6). Indeed it is possible for someone in Christ to give a spiritual gift to someone else through the laying on of hands for example. 

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It is possible for someone in Christ to give a spiritual gift to someone else:
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3) Spiritual gifts: placed, having, replaced:

The language used for spiritual gifts indicate that a spiritual gift can be PLACED (1 Corinthians 12:28) in the church, such that some can then be described as presently HAVING spiritual gifts. The PLACE can be assigned to SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS THAT ONE WOULD KNOW WHO THEY ARE. Someone PLACED can even be REPLACED (Acts 1:25) after they die. 

It is written that God PLACED spiritual gifts in the church, as it is written about "gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31) that "God PLACED some in the church (as) first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then powers [miracles]; then gifts (of) healings, helps, steerings, kinds (of) tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:28).

➔ The word for "PLACED" (1 Corinthians 12:28) here is in the AORIST INDICATIVE in ancient Greek manuscripts, indicating a COMPLETED PAST.

The PLACE can be assigned to SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS THAT ONE WOULD KNOW WHO THEY ARE, as it is written that "God PLACED SOME in the church (as) first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers" (1 Corinthians 12:28). 

For example in Acts 8, Philip (who was not an apostle) announced the good news to people, but then SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS (who were apostles) had to come down for people to receive the Holy Spirit, as it is written: "the APOSTLES in Jerusalem, having-heard that “Samaria has-accepted the word (of) God”, SENT-FORTH PETER AND JOHN TO THEM, who, having-come-down, prayed for them so-that they-might-receive (the) Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:14-15). Philip (who was not an apostle) did not expect the Holy Spirit to interchangeably according to the need PLACE him suddenly as an apostle to do that.

Someone PLACED can even be REPLACED after they die, as for example it was the case with Judas who was an apostle... but only after he died his PLACE was taken by someone else, as it is written: "they-put (forward) two: Joseph (the (one) being-called Barsabbas, who was-called Justus), and Matthias. And having-prayed, they-said, “You, Lord, heart-knower (of) all, appoint (the) one whom You-chose from these two TO-TAKE THE PLACE (of) this ministry and APOSTLESHIP from which Judas turned-aside to-go to (his) own place”. And they-gave lots (for) them. And the lot fell upon Matthias, and HE-WAS-ADDED with the eleven APOSTLES" (Acts 1:23-26).

4) Spiritual gifts as functions of individual body parts in a body:

The language used for spiritual gifts indicate that HAVING a spiritual GIFT can be likened to HAVING a specific FUNCTION as an individual body part of a body. And it may be inferred that this FUNCTION remains until death (unless conditionally unable to exercise it). 

Paul wrote in Romans 12: "we-have many body-parts in one body and all the body-parts do not HAVE the same FUNCTION" (Romans 12:4), adding that we therefore are "HAVING different GIFTS" (Romans 12:6).

➔ Here HAVING "GIFTS" (Romans 12:6) may be interchangeable with each HAVING a "FUNCTION" (Romans 12:4) as a body part in a body. 

Paul did not only indicate this in Romans 12, but also in 1 Corinthians 12:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about "differences (of) GIFTS" (1 Corinthians 12:4) and "the same Spirit works all these (things), distributing (to) each (one) individually, just-as (it) wills. FOR just-as the (human) body is one (body); and IT HAS MANY BODY-PARTS" (1 Corinthians 12:11-12), adding that those body parts have each a specific FUNCTION, as he wrote: "If the whole body (were an) eye, where (would) the HEARING (be)? If (the) whole (were an) ear, where (would) the SMELLING (be)?" (1 Corinthians 12:17). 

➔ Here the body has different individual BODY PARTS having each a specific set FUNCTION (the ear for HEARING, the nose for SMELLING, etc). 

If HAVING a spiritual GIFT can be likened to having a specific FUNCTION as an individual body part of a body, then it could be inferred that this FUNCTION remains the same until death.

Indeed, in a human body the FUNCTION of a specific body part REMAINS THE SAME UNTIL DEATH (an EYE does not suddenly have the function to SMELL, but it keeps its needed function of SEEING in a body until death, unless conditionally unable to exercise its function). 

For more information:

Framework to understand spiritual gifts: the analogy of body parts:
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5) There can be conditions to be able to exercise spiritual gifts:

Being able to have spiritual gifts until death would NOT imply that therefore the spiritual gifts would necessarily BE IN OPERATION ALL THE TIME until death, as there can be CONDITIONS to be ABLE TO EXERCISE THEM (that may not always be present). 

5) A) Conditions to be able to exercise:

There can be CONDITIONS to meet to be ABLE to exercise spiritual gifts. 

This can explain why someone MAY NOT SEE A SPIRITUAL GIFT BEING EXERCISED IN THEIR LIFE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME (because the conditions to be able to exercise them may not always be present at all times). 

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There can be conditions to be able to exercise a spiritual gift:
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5) B) Absence of exercice does not necessitate absence of a gift:

If someone does not exercise their spiritual gift, they are expected to REKINDLE it, as Paul wrote to Timothy: "I-am-reminding YOU TO-BE-REKINDLING the GIFT (of) God which is in you through the laying-on (of) my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6). 

Notice how Paul wrote to Timothy that the gift "IS in you" (2 Timothy 1:6) STILL, highlighting that the absence of exercice did not necessitate the absence of the gift which was still in Timothy. 

The gift just needed to be rekindled. Indeed, someone is expected to exercise their spiritual gifts.

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Spiritual gifts are expected to be exercised:
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It is also possible for someone to TURN ASIDE from their spiritual GIFT, as it is for example written about the "APOSTLESHIP from which JUDAS TURNED-ASIDE" (Acts 1:25).

6) What about the manifestation of the Spirit, isn't that temporary?:

What about the manifestation of the Spirit, isn't that different in the sense of being a temporary event given temporarily? 

➔ The "MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) can be given TEMPORARILY to someone and then never again.

For more information:

God is able to give a manifestation of the Spirit temporarily to anyone:
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However there is evidence that the "MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) can ALSO be given in such a way that the person can be described as HAVING it in a more permanent way as a gift.

6) A) 1 Corinthians 12: placed and then having:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about "the MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) such as "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS [...], workings (of) POWERS [MIRACLES], [...] KINDS (OF) TONGUES" (1 Corinthians 12:9-10). 

Later in the same chapter, Paul indicated that God PLACED those in the church, as it is written that "God PLACED some in the church (as) first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then POWERS [MIRACLES]; then GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS, helps, steerings, KINDS (OF) TONGUES" (1 Corinthians 12:28).

➔ The word for "PLACED" (1 Corinthians 12:28) here is in the AORIST INDICATIVE in ancient Greek manuscripts, indicating a COMPLETED PAST.

After Paul described that God "PLACED" (1 Corinthians 12:28) IN THE PAST some "gifts (of) healings" (1 Corinthians 12:28), Paul described how some can then be PRESENTLY HAVING those, as Paul wrote IN THE PRESENT TENSE about "HAVING gifts (of) healings" (1 Corinthians 12:30). 

Paul also then described those "POWERS [MIRACLES]; then GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS, helps, steerings, KINDS (OF) TONGUES" (1 Corinthians 12:28) as "GIFTS" (1 Corinthians 12:31) after mentioning them, writing to "be-zealous-for the greater GIFTS" (1 Corinthians 12:31). 

6) B) Romans 12: having prophecy as having a set function:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about "the MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) such as "PROPHECY" (1 Corinthians 12:10).  

Paul mentioned prophecy in Romans 12, writing about "HAVING different GIFTS" (Romans 12:6) such as "PROPHECY" (Romans 12:6).  

➔ The word for "HAVING" (Romans 12:6) here is in the PRESENT TENSE in ancient Greek manuscripts, suggesting that once spiritual gifts have been given and received, someone is then PRESENTLY CONTINUALLY HAVING those spiritual gifts. 

Paul also wrote in Romans 12: "we-have many body-parts in one body and all the body-parts do not HAVE the same FUNCTION" (Romans 12:4), adding that we therefore are "HAVING different GIFTS" (Romans 12:6).

➔ Here HAVING "GIFTS" (Romans 12:6) may be interchangeable with each HAVING a "FUNCTION" (Romans 12:4) as a body part in a body. The function of an eye would remain to see.

6) C) Luke 9: given powers in the past, lasting afterward:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about "the MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) such as "workings (of) POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:10). 

It is written in Luke 9 about Jesus and the twelve apostles that "having-called-together the twelve, HE-GAVE THEM POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] and authority OVER ALL THE DEMONS, AND TO-CURE DISEASES" (Luke 9:1). 

In this passage the gift of "POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:10) would have been GIVEN to them. 

➔ The word for "HE-GAVE" (Luke 9:1) here is in the AORIST INDICATIVE in ancient Greek manuscripts, indicating a COMPLETED PAST, suggesting that once that has been given... it is a COMPLETED PAST EVENT for this spiritual gift (a spiritual gift does NOT need to be continuously given). 

From Luke 9 on the apostles were then recorded to do workings of powers [miracles]. Even in Acts they were still the ones doing them as it is written: "And (with) great POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek], THE APOSTLES rendering (their) testimony (of) the resurrection (of) the Lord Jesus" (Acts 4:33). 

6) D) 1 Corinthians 14: not speaking if there is no interpretor:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about "the MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) such as "INTERPRETATION (OF) TONGUES" (1 Corinthians 12:10). 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14: "If anyone speaks (in a) tongue, (let it be done) by two or (at) the most three, and in turn, and let one (person) interpret. But if there-is no INTERPRETER, let-him-be-silent in church. And let-him-speak to himself and (to) God" (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). 

Here BEFORE someone speaks in a tongue in church, they would have TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE IS AN INTERPRETER PRESENT OR NOT, as suggested by the sentence "if there-is no INTERPRETER, let-him-be-silent in church" (1 Corinthians 14:28). 

Furthermore, Paul used specifically the Greek word "INTERPRETER" (1 Corinthians 14:28) which is a NOUN, designating a PERSON (not a verb merely designating an action).

➔ These indications may imply that it could be possible that someone with the gift of interpretation of tongues may be placed by God in the church to function in this spiritual gift in such a way that they may be known by others as BEING an INTERPRETOR. 

6) E) 1 Corinthians 12: tongues can be spoken any time:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about "the MANIFESTATION (of) the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:7) such as "KINDS (OF) TONGUES" (1 Corinthians 12:10). 

There is evidence that someone SPEAKING IN TONGUES is perfectly able to CONTROL when they speak in tongues or when they do not (implying that it is not something they are given only temporarily, but it would be a gift abiding in them that they would have been given in the past and afterward would be in them). 

For more information:

Kinds of tongues (speaking in tongues):
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7) Doesn't the Spirit of God simply give temporarily the spiritual gifts as It wants?:

Paul wrote about "the manifestation (OF) THE SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:7) that "THE SAME SPIRIT works all these (things), distributing (to) each (one) individually, JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11). 

A spiritual gift will not be given to someone if it is not in accordance with the WILL of the Spirit of God. Indeed there can be CONDITIONS for spiritual gifts to be given.

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There can be conditions for spiritual gifts to be given:
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Doesn't the Spirit of God simply give temporarily the spiritual gifts as he wants? 

➔ The "SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:7) gives spiritual gifts "JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11). However there is evidence that this would NOT necessitate that therefore the Spirit of God WILLS to give the spiritual gifts necessarily TEMPORARILY. 

Evidence from 1 Timothy 4:

For exemple, Paul wrote to Timothy: "Do not pay-no-concern (for) the GIFT IN YOU, which WAS-GIVEN (to) you THROUGH (A) PROPHECY with (the) laying-on (of) the hands (of) the council-of-elders" (1 Timothy 4:14). 

Here Timothy had a gift in him, given to him "THROUGH (A) PROPHECY with (the) laying-on (of) the hands" (1 Timothy 4:14). In the book of Acts, when a PROPHECY was followed by a laying on of the hands, it could describe a prophecy revealing what the WILL of the SPIRIT of God was. 

For example it is written in Acts 13: "THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, “Separate now Barnabas and Saul (FOR) ME, for the work which I-HAVE-CALLED them to”. Then, having-fasted and prayed and laid (their) hands (on) them" (Acts 13:2-3). Here a PROPHECY revealed what the Holy SPIRIT of God WANTED, and then they laid their hands. 

Similarly, "the manifestation (OF) THE SPIRIT IS-GIVEN" (1 Corinthians 12:7) "JUST-AS (THE SPIRIT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11), and in the case of Timothy his spiritual gift "WAS-GIVEN (to) you THROUGH (A) PROPHECY with (the) laying-on (of) the hands" (1 Timothy 4:14), just as the Spirit willed. 

Notice that the Spirit of God did not WILL to give a spiritual gift to Timothy TEMPORARILY. Instead, it is described that the spiritual gift "WAS-GIVEN" (1 Timothy 4:14) in the AORIST INDICATIVE in ancient Greek manuscripts, indicating a COMPLETED PAST EVENT (not an event happening temporarily dynamically for a present moment), and then in the PRESENT Timothy was expected to stop to "pay-no-concern (for) the GIFT IN YOU" (1 Timothy 4:14), suggesting that the Spirit of God WANTED to give that gift for it to be CONTINUALLY PRESENT IN TIMOTHY and for it to be exercised later on (not just present and exercised temporarily when it would be given). 

Thus the "SPIRIT" (1 Corinthians 12:7) can give a spiritual gift "JUST-AS (IT) WILLS" (1 Corinthians 12:11), and there is evidence to suggest that Spirit can be described as WILLING to give a spiritual gift AT A FINITE POINT IN THE PAST TO SOMEONE FOR THE GIFT TO THEN BE CONTINUALLY PRESENT IN THAT PERSON. 

8) Why it is important to believe that people can be described as having spiritual gifts until death:

It is important to believe that someone can be described as having a spiritual gift until death (instead for example of only having them temporarily for a limited season and then not have it anymore), because this knowledge can lead to more things practically. For example:

8) A) Someone can get to KNOW what spiritual gifts they have. 

➔ If someone had spiritual gifts only for a season and then not have them anymore, one would not be able to REALLY KNOW if they STILL HAVE a certain spiritual gift or not (as spiritual gifts can also have conditions to be able to exercise them, so a lack of being able to exercise them for a season would not determine if a spiritual gift would still be here or not).

For more information:

How can someone know what spiritual gifts they have:
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8) B) Someone can DEVELOP the spiritual gifts that they have. 

➔ If someone had spiritual gifts only for a season and then not have them anymore, one would only be able to develop them for a short while. However, CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP spiritual gifts CAN TAKE A LOT OF TIME which may suggest that such time is available to do so (instead of a short season only). 

For more information:

Spiritual gifts can be developed:
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8) C) Spiritual gifts are EXPECTED to be STEWARDED. 

➔ To expect someone to steward something they have been given for a short season would not correspond to the BIBLICAL EXPECTATION OF SPIRITUAL STEWARDSHIP, in which for example someone was described as being something to steward for "MUCH TIME" (Matthew 25:19).

For more information:

Spiritual gifts are expected to be stewarded:
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