The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse make their debut appearance on the world stage in the biblical Book of Revelation, the last book of the christian bible. In chapter 6, the Lamb (Jesus) opens the first four seals of a scroll with seven seals which calls forth the riders of the apocalypse as follows (Rev 6:1-8):

First Seal: White Horse - Conquest - Bow
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Second Seal: Red Horse - War - Sword
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

Third Seal: Black Horse - Famine - Scales
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

Fourth Seal: Pale Horse - Death
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.


They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.



Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, by Viktor Vasnetsov. Painted in 1887