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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_8:1-2
1When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God. And seven trumpets were given to them.
Rev_8:1 "When the Lamb broke the seventh seal" Jesus is the One who opens the seventh seal, but from this point on angels will be involved in announcing the seven trumpets and later the seven bowls.
▣ "there was silence in heaven for about half an hour" There have been several theories connected with this silence. The rabbis relate it to a period of silence to let the prayers of the saints be heard
1. some relate it to the book of 2Es_7:29-31, where the silence is the beginning of the New Age
2. others relate it to several OT passages where humans are to be silent in the coming presence of God (cf. Hab_2:20; Zep_1:7; Zec_2:13)
3. some relate it to dramatic effect for the coming intense judgment on unbelievers
4. Victorinus related it to the beginning of eternity
Rev_8:2 "and I saw the seven angels who stand before God" It is interesting that the definite article appears, "the seven angels." In rabbinical Judaism the seven angels of the presence are named in Tob_12:15; Jubilees 1:27,29; Rev_2:1-2; Rev_2:18; and I Enoch 20:1-7. They are Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Saraqael or Sariel, Gabriel, and Remiel. Others see this phrase as related to the Messiah (paralleled to "the Angel of His Presence") in Isa_63:9 or to judgment on those who rebel and grieve the Holy Spirit (cf. Isa_63:10). The Exodus connection may be seen in the angel in Exo_23:20-23; Exo_33:12-16.
▣ "seven trumpets were given to them" There are seven angels to correspond to the seven trumpets (cf. Rev_8:6). In the OT trumpets were often used to communicate to God's people, either religiously or militarily (cf. Exo_19:16; Num_10:1-10; Isa_27:13; Jer_4:5-9; Joe_2:1; Zep_1:16; Zec_9:14; 2Es_6:23, see Special Topic at Rev_1:10). In the NT a trumpet will announce the Second Coming of Christ (cf. Mat_24:31; 1Co_15:52-53; 1Th_4:16).