What happens when the seventh seal is opened in Revelation 8?
When the seventh seal is opened, heaven falls into absolute silence for about half an hour. No angelic voice, instrument, music, shout, or trumpet sounds. Then seven angels standing before God receive seven trumpets, and the first trumpet judgment begins the series of seven trumpet judgments.
Les explains that Revelation 8 opens at the midpoint of the tribulation. When the seventh seal is opened, there is silence in heaven for half an hour—no angelic voice, instrument, music, shout, or trumpet. He calls this sobering because of the awesome things about to come on the earth; even the angelic hosts are aware of the awful things coming. Out of the seventh seal comes the first of the trumpet judgments, and seven trumpets are given to seven angels. These trumpets announce the next events, and the tribulation judgments will crescendo like birth pangs until Christ returns.