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启示录生命读经 · 第23篇

揭开第七印后天上的景象，

The scene in heaven after the opening of the seventh seal
与对地、海、江河、日、月、星辰的审判─头四号
and the judgment upon the earth, the sea, the rivers, the sun, the moon, and the stars—the first four trumpets
1在本篇信息中，我们来到八章一至十二节，说到揭开第七印，（启八1～八3～5，）以及吹头四号。（启八6～12。）
1we come in this message to 8:1-12. In this chapter we have the opening of the seventh seal (vv. 1-2), the (vv. 3-5), and the sounding of the first four trumpets (vv. 6-12).
壹 第七印
I. THE SEVENTH SEAL
2第七印包括了七号，因为七号乃是第七印的内容。我们若要明白这卷书里的豫言，就必须认识，神经纶的奥秘是用七印封严的。我们曾指出，五章里的书卷乃是基督用祂宝血所立的新约。这新约是神经纶的书卷，用七印封著，这七印就是书卷的内容。我们看见，头四印不是接续发生的，乃是同时发生的；但第五印与第六印则是接续发生的。第七印包括了第六印以后，直到永远所发生的一切事。所以，这包括七号在内的第七印，是包罗万有的。我们将要看见，七碗是第七号的一部分。第七印包括了七号，而七碗又是第七号的一部分。第七印与七号要持续到永远。第七号要结束这个时代，并引进国度、新天和新地。有的人以为说，七印之后接著有七号，七碗又是跟在七号之后，这观念是天然的。我们不该凭天然的观念来明白主的话，反该弃绝天然的观念，并来到主面前说，『主阿，将你的道路向我们显明。』一九三三年起，我便受了倪弟兄对启示录之研读的帮助。由于天然观念在我里面根深柢固，我相信七号是七印的延续，而七碗又跟在七号之后。这个观念不断困扰我。我读了又读，直到有一天得了亮光，看见第七印包含了七号，七号就等于第七印。七号实际上就是第七印。头四印的内容是四匹马，第五印的内容是殉道圣徒的呼喊，第六印的内容是神对这呼喊的答应。以及对住在地上之人的警告，第七印的内容是七号。七号的头四号，像头四印一样形成一组，还没有直接审判人。第一号审判地和其上的树，以及一切的青草，与临到埃及的灾害一样；（出九18～25；）第二号审判海与其中的活物并船只；第三号审判江河和众水的泉，与临到埃及的灾害一样；（出七17～；）第四号审判日头、月亮和星辰，使日月星辰都黑暗了。也与当日在埃及所降的灾一样。（出十21～23。）因这四号的审判，地、海、江河、以及天象的三分之一都毁坏了，因此使牠们不再适于人的生活。在七号之前，就是在第六印时，地与天象已经受了审判，（启六12～14，）但是毁坏的范围，不像头四号的灾害那样明确。在第五号时，撒但与敌基督要合作使人受痛苦。到第六号时，有进一步的审判临到人，二万万马军杀了人类的三分之一。到了第七号时，有许多事要发生，就如；基督永远的国；由七碗组成的第三祸；对死人的审判；对申言者、圣徒、和敬畏神之人的赏赐；以及对那些败坏地者的败坏。到第七号时，藉著七碗，更有进一步的审判临到地、海、江河和日头。（启十六1～21。）那是神对天地最严厉的审判。
2The seventh seal, which will begin before the great tribulation, consists of the seven trumpets, for the seven trumpets are the content of the seventh seal. If we would understand the prophecy of this book, we must realize that the secret of God’secon o my is sealed with seven seals. As we have pointed out, the scroll in chapter five is the new testament enacted by Christ with His precious blood. This new testament is the scroll of God’secon o my sealed with seven seals which are the contents of the scroll. We have seen that the first four seals are not consecutive but simultaneous and that the fifth and sixth seals are consecutive. The seventh seal includes everything from after the sixth seal to eternity future. Thus, the seventh seal, consisting of the seven trumpets, is all - inclusive. As we shall see, the seven bowls are a part of the seventh trumpet. The seventh seal consists of the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet consists, in part, of the seven bowls. Both the seventh seal and the seven trumpets run to eternity. The seventh trumpet will close this age and usher in the kingdom, the new heaven, and the new earth. Some may have the concept that the seven trumpets follow the seven seals and that the seven bowls succeed the seven trumpets. This concept is natural. In understanding the Word, we should have no trust in our natural concepts. Rather, we must forsake them and come to the Lord, saying, “Lord, show us Your way.” Since 1933, I have been helped by Brother Nee’s study on the book of Revelation. Due to the natural concept which was deeply embedded in my thinking, I believed that the seven trumpets were the continuation of the seven seals and that the seven bowls followed the seven trumpets. This concept constantly troubled me. I studied and studied until one day the light came and I saw that the seventh seal contains the seven trumpets. The seven trumpets are the equivalent of the seventh seal. They actually are the seventh seal. The content of the first four seals is the four horses, the content of the fifth seal is the cry of the martyred saints, the content of the sixth seal is God’s answer to the cry of the martyred saints, and a warning to the dwellers on the earth, and the content of the seventh seal is the seven trumpets. Like the first four seals, the first four trumpets, which are not yet the direct judgment on men, form one group. The first trumpet consists of a judgment on the earth with the trees and all the grass, as occurred in Egypt (Exo. 9:18-25); the second, a judgment on the sea with the living creatures and ships; the third, a judgment on the rivers and springs of waters, as occurred in Egypt (Exo. 7:17-21); the fourth, a judgment on the sun, the moon, and the stars, to darken them, 21 as also occurred in Egypt (Exo. 10:21-23). By the judgments of these four trumpets, the third part of the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the hosts in the heavens are damaged, thus causing them to be no longer good for man’s living. Before the seven trumpets, there will already have been a judgment on the earth and on the hosts of the heavens at the sixth seal (6:12-14). The extent of the damage of that judgment will not be as definite as the damage of the first four trumpets. At the fifth trumpet Satan and Antichrist will collaborate to torment men; at the sixth trumpet there will be a further judgment on men as the two hundred million cavalry kill the third part of men; and at the seventh trumpet there will be many things—the eternal kingdom of Christ, the third woe comprising the seven bowls, the judgment of the dead, the giving of reward to the prophets, to the saints, and to the Godfearing people, and the destruction of the destroyers of the earth. At the seventh trumpet, there will be further judgments on the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the sun through the seven bowls (16:1-21). These will be the most severe judgments of God upon the earth and heaven.
3我们必须弃绝这观念，以为七号、七印和七碗是连续发生的。我再重复说，七号是第七印的内容，七碗又是第七号的一部分。这是明白启示录里豫言的钥匙。只有神能写得出启示录，因为只有祂有智慧，用如此美妙的方式写这卷书。除祂以外，谁有智慧，用这样的表号和象征，就如以四匹马，就概括了已过二十个世纪的历史？七印、七号和七碗的非连续性，就显明神写这卷书的智慧。我们若没有光，看见这安排，就可能一再读启示录，仍觉混乱不清。
3We must forsake the concept that the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls are consecutive. No, to repeat, the seven trumpets are the content of the seventh seal, and the seven bowls are a part of the seventh trumpet. This is the key to understanding the prophecy of this book. Only God could have written the book of Revelation because only He has the wisdom to compose it in such a marvelous way. Who else has the wisdom to write a book with such signs and symbols as that of the four horses which fully cover the history of the past twenty centuries? That the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls are not consecutive reveals God’s wisdom in writing this book. If we do not have the light to see this arrangement, although we may read Revelation again and again, we shall still be confused.
贰 揭开第七印后天上的景象
II. THE SCENE IN HEAVEN after the opening of the seventh seal
4在八章一至二节，我们看见七枝号被带进来，是对第五印里圣徒祷告的答应。印是隐密的揭开，七号是公开的吹响。
4In 8:1-2 we see the seven trumpets brought in as the answer to the saints’ prayer in the fifth seal. The seals are opened secretly, whereas the trumpets are sounded openly
一 天上寂静约有半小时
A. Silence in Heaven about Half an Hour
5当羔羊『揭开第七印的时候，天上寂静约有半小时。』（启八1。）『天上寂静』指明这是严肃的时刻。揭开第七印时，天上变为寂静，因为时代就要转换了。在揭开第七印之前，是神宽容的时代。为著祂的定旨，就是要传福音产生众召会，以成就祂永远的计画，神一直宽容地上罪恶的光景。然而随著第七印的揭开，宽容的时代结束了，带进了另一个时代，就是神发怒的时代。神现在要来干涉地上背叛和罪恶的光景。因为这时刻太严肃了，天上就变为寂静，指明有严肃的事要发生了。
5When the Lamb “opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about half an hour” (v. 1). This silence indicates solemnity. At the opening of the seventh seal, all heaven becomes silent because the age is about to be changed. The period before the opening of the seventh seal was the age of God’stole ration. For the sake of His purpose of preaching the gospel to produce the churches to fulfill His eternal plan, God has been tolerating the sinful situation on earth. But with the opening of the seventh seal, the age of toleration is terminated and another age is brought in. This is the age of God’s wrath. God is now coming in to intervene in the rebellious and sinful situation on earth. Because this occasion is so solemn, heaven becomes silent, an indication that something serious is about to take place
二 基督作大祭司在天上供职
B. Christ Ministering in Heaven as the High Priest
1 是另一位天使
1. As “ Another Angel
6在这严肃的景象当中，有另一位天使出现了。（启八3。）这位天使乃是基督。当基督被启示为在众召会中间行走之时，祂被启示为人子；当祂向众召会说话时，祂宣告祂所有的身分。但是在施行神对地上的审判时，基督乃是天使，站在被神差遣的地位上。就非常积极的一面说，基督是一切。神的经纶需要甚么，祂就是甚么。启示录里特别描写基督是『另一位天使，』指明祂不是一位寻常、平凡的天使，乃是一位特别的天使。我们在第二十一篇信息中已经指出，在旧约里基督被称为耶和华的使者，就是神自己。（创二二11～12，出三2～6，士六11～24，亚一11～12，二8～11，三1～7。）在创世记二十二章，耶和华的使者对亚伯拉罕说话；在出埃及三章，耶和华的使者向摩西显现。基督是另一位天使，是那惟一、特别的天使。
6In the midst of this solemn scene, another Angel appears (v. 3). This angel is Christ. When Christ was revealed as walking in the midst of the churches, He was revealed as the Son of Man, and when He spoke to the churches, He declared all His qualifications. But in the administration of God’s judgment upon the earth, Christ is the Angel standing on the position of One who has been sent by God. In a very positive sense, Christ is everything; He is whatever the economy of God needs. Revelation specifically describes Christ as “another Angel,” indicating that He is not a regular or common angel but a special Angel. As we pointed out in message twenty - one, in the Old Testament Christ was called the “Angel of the Lord,” who was God Himself (Gen. 22:11-12; Exo. 3:2-6; Judg. 6:11-24; Zech. 1:11-12; 2:8-11; 3:1-7). In Genesis 22 the Angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham, and in Exodus 3 the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses. Christ is another Angel; He is the unique, special Angel.
2 向神献上众圣徒的祷告
2. Offering the Saints’ Prayers to God
7三节说，『另一位天使拿著金香炉，来站在祭坛旁边，有许多香赐给祂，好同众圣徒的祷告献在宝座前的金坛上。』这一节的祭坛，是指燔祭坛，（参出二七1～8，）而宝座前的金坛，乃是指香坛。（参出三十1～9。）金香炉象征众圣徒的祷告，（启五8，）由另一位天使，就是基督，献给神。香象征基督连同祂所有的一切功绩，加到众圣徒的祷告上，使众圣徒的祷告，在金香坛上得蒙神的悦纳。在揭开第七印时，地上仍有圣徒在祷告。
7Verse 3 says, “And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and much incense was given to Him that He should add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” The first altar in this verse refers to the altar of burnt offering (cf. Exo. 27:1-8), and the golden altar before the throne refers to the incense altar (cf. Exo. 30:1-9). The golden censer signifies the prayer of the saints, which is brought to God by Christ as the other Angel. The incense signifies Christ with all His merit to be added to the prayers of the saints that the saints’ prayers might be acceptable to God upon the golden altar. At the opening of the seventh seal there will still be “saints” praying on the earth
8在揭开第七印后天上的景象中，基督成为另一位天使出现，藉著作大祭司，带著祂圣徒的祷告向神供职，以执行神在地上的行政。祂向神献上祂圣徒的祷告之时，加上了祂的香。四节说，『那香的烟同众圣徒的祷告，从那天使手中上升于神面前。』那香的烟指明那香同众圣徒的祷告一同向神焚烧，上升于神面前。这含示众圣徒的祷告因著加上了香，就有功效，且蒙神悦纳。
8In this scene in heaven after the opening of the seventh seal, Christ appears as another Angel to execute God’sad ministration over the earth in the way of ministering to God as the High Priest with the prayers of His saints. As He offers the prayers of His saints to God, He adds His incense to them. Verse 4 says that “the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the Angel before God.” The “smoke of the incense” indicates that the incense is burnt to God with the prayers of the saints. This implies that by the incense which is added to them the prayers of the saints become effective and acceptable to God
3 将火丢在地上，执行神对地的审判
3. Casting Fire to the Earth to Execute God’s Judgment upon the Earth
9五节说，『那天使拿著香炉，盛满了坛上的火，丢在地上，于是有雷轰、声音、闪电、地震。』这含示对众圣徒祷告的答应，特别是指在六章九至十一节所说第五印的祷告，以及在路加十八章七至八节所说的祷告。八章这里圣徒的祷告，必是求神审判这抵挡神经纶的地。对众圣徒祷告的答应，就是藉著以下七号所执行神对这地的审判。将火丢在地上，是执行神对地的审判。所以，雷轰、声音、闪电、地震的来临，乃是神审判的标记。
9Verse 5 says, “And the Angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and cast it to the earth; and there were thunders and voices and lightnings and an earthquake.” This implies the answer to the prayers of the saints, especially the prayer in the fifth seal mentioned in 6:9-11 and the prayer mentioned in Luke 18:7-8. The prayer of the saints in this chapter must be for the judgment of the earth which opposes God’secon o my. The answer to the saints’ prayers is the execution of God’s judgment upon the earth by the following seven trumpets. To cast fire to the earth is to execute God’s judgment upon the earth. Therefore, the thunders, voices, lightnings, and the earthquake come as signs of God’s judgment
10神对地的审判，乃是对那加上了基督作香之众圣徒祷告的答应。虽然第六印已经揭开，七号也即将吹响，但要等到基督来了，将自己当作香，和众圣徒的祷告一起献给神之后，才有雷轰、声音、闪电、地震发生。这指明虽然神定意要在地上施行审判，但仍需要众圣徒用祷告与祂合作。神需要祂的圣徒祷告，使祂能执行祂的审判。你若读路加十八章，就会看见主耶稣说，到了某一个时候，地上的圣徒要呼求神出来对付那种局面，并且表白祂自己。到这个世代的末了，人要大大背叛神，甚至向全宇宙宣称，他们就是神。神虽然容忍，但有些忠信的圣徒再也不能忍受，他们要祷告说，『哦，主宰一切的主阿！你还要容忍到几时？难道你要永远容让这悖逆的光景么？还要等多久你才来表白你自己，并且为我们伸冤？还有多久才使全地知道你是主？』到最后，一定得有这种祷告。我相信我们被迫这样祷告的日子已经近了。今天我不能要你们这样祷告，因为你们还没有受到这种压迫。但是有一天，这个压迫要临到我们，我们就有负担这样祷告。这指明末期即将来到，因为我们的灵再也不能容忍这种光景了。那时我们要祷告，求主表白祂自己，让所有的背叛者都知道祂是神。当我们这样祷告时，神所差遣的那位天使就要把祂自己当作香，加在我们的祷告上，一同呈献给神。神必要答应这祷告，于是就有了雷轰、声音、闪电和地震。那不过是神审判这背叛之地的开始。这要发生在揭开第七印的时候；那时，作另一位天使的基督，要作我们的大祭司，将我们的祷告调上祂的香，带到神面前，也要成为受差遣的一位，在地上执行神的审判。六节说，『拿著七号的七位天使，就豫备要吹号。』七枝号已经赐给七位天使。（启八2。）但是到三至五节众圣徒的祷告得答应后，七位天使才豫备吹号。神在天上的旨意，需要众圣徒的祷告在地上完成。基督向神献上众圣徒的祷告，带进了七号。
10God’s judgment upon the earth is the answer to the prayers of the saints with Christ as the incense. Although the sixth seal has been opened and the seven trumpets are ready to be sounded, nothing happens until Christ comes to offer the saints’ prayers to God with Himself as the incense. At that time, there are thunders, voices, lightnings, and an earthquake. This indicates that while God has the intention of executing His judgment upon the earth, there is still the need of the saints to cooperate with Him with their prayers. God needs His saints to pray that He might execute His judgment. If you read Luke 18, you will see that the Lord Jesus says that at a certain time the saints on earth will cry to God to come in to deal with the situation and to vindicate Himself. At the end of this age, people will be so rebellious against God that they will even declare to the whole universe that they are God. While God has been tolerating this, some of the faithful saints will no longer bear it and will pray, “O sovereign Lord, how long will You bear with this? Will You tolerate this rebellion forever? How long will it be before You come in to vindicate Yourself and avenge us? How long will it be until all the earth will know that You are the Lord?” Eventually, there will be a need for this kind of prayer. I believe the time is coming when we shall all be pressed to pray like this. I cannot charge you to pray this way today because you are not under this kind of pressure. But one day the pressure will be upon us and we shall be burdened to pray in this way. This will indicate that the end is at hand because our spirit will not tolerate the situation any longer. Then we shall pray to the Lord to vindicate Himself and to let all the rebellious ones know that He is God. When we pray like this, the Angel sent by God will minister to God with our prayer, adding to it Himself as the incense. God will certainly answer this prayer, and there will be thunders, voices, lightnings, and an earthquake. That will simply be the beginning of God’s judgment upon this rebellious earth. This will take place at the opening of the seventh seal when Christ, the other Angel, will minister as our High Priest to bring to God our prayers mingled with His incense, and will be the One sent to execute God’s judgment on earth. Verse 6 says, “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to trumpet.” The seven trumpets were given to the seven angels (v. 2). But it is after the prayers of the saints in verses 3 through 5 have been answered that the seven angels are prepared to trumpet. God’s will in heaven requires the saints’ prayer to carry it out on earth. The offering of the saints’ prayers to God by Christ brings in the seven trumpets.
参 第一号─审判地
III. THE FIRST TRUMPET the judgment upon the earth
11七节说，『第一位天使吹号，就有雹子与火搀著血丢在地上，地的三分之一被烧了，树的三分之一被烧了，一切的青草也被烧了。』天使一开始吹号，宇宙中一切事物都要被翻转过来。第一号要毁坏地的三分之一。这里『三分之一，』直译是『第三分之一。』这就是说，地的某一部分，就是『第三分之一』要被毁坏。全地虽然都是罪恶的，但有些地方是特别邪恶、属撒但、属鬼魔的。我不相信美国是属于这第三分之一的地方。美国虽然有罪恶，但还不像别的地方那样邪恶。那些极其罪恶的地区，就是『地的第三分之一。』人人都要听到这话，受到警惕，免得因邪恶顶撞神，就使所住的地区成为『地的第三分之一，』而被神的审判完全毁坏。按启示录九章，神仍然要用对『第三分之一』的审判，来警告背叛的世人，叫他们悔改。
11Verse 7 says, “And the first trumpeted: and there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was cast to the earth; and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” When the angels begin to trumpet, everything in the universe will be turned upside down. The first trumpet will damage “the third part of the earth.” Note that this verse does not say “a third,” but “the third part.” This means that a certain part of the earth, “the third part,” will be damaged. While the whole earth is sinful, some parts of the earth are particularly hellish, devilish, satanic, demonic, and evil. I do not believe that the third part of the earth will include the United States. The United States is sinful, but, unlike other parts of the earth, it is not devilishly sinful. Those regions of the earth that are so sinful will be “the third part.” Many people need to hear this word and be warned by it not to be so evil against God that their region becomes “the third part” of the earth, the region that will be fully damaged by God’s judgment. According to Revelation 9, God’s judgment of “the third part” will still be used to warn the rebellious world to repent
肆 第二号─
IV. THE SECOND TRUMPET
审判海
THE JUDGMENT UPON THE SEA
12在八节和九节，我们看见第二号：『第二位天使吹号，就有彷佛火烧著的大山扔在海中，海的三分之一变成血，海中的活物死了三分之一，船只也坏了三分之一。』这里我们看见第二号要毁坏『海的第三分之一。』（直译。）有些强大的国家为了扩张海权，一直在发展他们的海军。他们这样作的目的，是犯罪顶撞神。与第一号中审判地的原则一样，神要审判海的第三分之一。九节特别题到船只的三分之一被毁坏。那一部分的海，因著对神邪恶的抵挡而被玷污，就要受神审判的毁坏。
12In verses 8 and 9 we see the second trumpet: “And the second angel trumpeted: and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood, and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea and which had life died, and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” Here we see that the second trumpet will damage “the third part of the sea.” Some powerful nations are developing their navies in order to expand their ocean territory. Their aim in doing so is to commit evil against God. In the same principle as the judgment upon the earth in the first trumpet, God will judge the third part of the sea. Verse 9 especially mentions the destruction of the third part of the ships. That part of the sea which is defiled by evil against God will be damaged by God’s judgment
伍 第三号─
V. THE THIRD TRUMPET
THE JUDGMENT UPON THE RIVERS
审判江河与众水的泉
AND UPON THE SPRINGS OF WATERS
13十节和十一节描写第三号：『第三位天使吹号，就有烧著的大星，好像火把从天上落下来，落在江河的三分之一，和众水的泉上。这星名叫茵𫈟；众水的三分之一变为茵𫈟，因水变苦，就死了许多人。』我们再次看见，江河的三分之一与众水的泉要被毁坏。水是人生存不可或缺的。抵挡神的人，与那些一直作恶顶撞神的人，仍在享受神的创造。他们虽然取用神创造的水，却继续抵挡神。有一天，神似乎要说，『我要使茵𫈟从天降下，进到你们的水中，水就要变苦。』这里神的审判仍然有一个限度，只限于江河的三分之一与众水的泉。
13Verses 10 and 11 describe the third trumpet: “And the third angel trumpeted: and a great star fell out of heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters because they were made bitter.” Again we see that the third part of the rivers and springs of waters will be damaged. Water is crucial to human life. The opposers of God and those who practice evil against Him still enjoy God’s creation. Although they partake of the water of God’s creation, they continue to oppose God. One day, God will seem to say, “Now I shall cause wormwood to fall out of heaven into your water and it will become bitter.” God’s judgment here still has a limitation, for it is limited to the third part of the rivers and springs.
陆 第四号─
VI. THE FOURTH TRUMPET
审判天象
THE JUDGMENT ON THE HEAVENLY HOSTS
14十二节说到第四号，就是对天象的审判：『第四位天使吹号，日头的三分之一、月亮的三分之一、星辰的三分之一都被击打，以致日月星辰的三分之一黑暗了，白昼的三分之一不发亮，黑夜也是这样。』地、海和江河受到审判之后，神的审判要击打天象的三分之一，毁坏日头、月亮、星辰的三分之一。日头被毁坏的那一部分，必定是照在邪恶国家之上的。神知道这一部分，这一部分将要变为黑暗。
14In verse 12 we read of the fourth trumpet, the judgment on the heavenly hosts: “And the fourth angel trumpeted: and the third part of the sun and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars were smitten, so that the third part of them might be darkened and the day should not appear for the third part of it, and the night likewise.” After the judgment of the earth, the sea, and the rivers, God’s judgment will smite the third part of the heavenly hosts, damaging the third part of the sun, the moon, and the stars. The part of the sun to be damaged will be that part which shines upon the evil nations. God knows this part, and it will be darkened