Horsemen

16. Horsemen

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (usually referred to as the Four Horsemen) are figures in Christian faith, appearing in the New Testament's final book, Revelation, an apocalypse written by John of Patmos, as well as in the Old Testament's prophetic Book of Zechariah, and in the Book of Ezekiel, where they are named as punishments from God.

The Four Horsemen

• Death

• Famine

• War

• Conquest

Characteristics

In John's revelation, the first horseman is on a white horse, carrying a bow, and given a crown, riding forward as a figure of Conquest, perhaps invoking Pestilence, Christ, or the Antichrist. The second carries a sword and rides a red horse and is the creator of War. The third is a food merchant riding upon a black horse, symbolizing Famine. The fourth and final horse is pale green, and upon it rides Death accompanied by Hades. "They were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of the beasts of the earth."

Power and Abilities

• Shapeshifting - They can take on the form of any human.

• Telepathy - The Horsemen can see into the minds of men and know their thoughts.

• Resurrection - They can raise the dead either as fully alive or as undead zombies.

• Possession - They can take on human vessels.

• The four horsemen are traditionally named after the powers they represent: War, Famine, Pestilence and Death; only Death, however, is directly named in the Bible.