What are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

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Why: In "5 Love Lessons from The Office's Michael Scott" on YourTango:

Except that Jan never seemed entirely convinced and, despite his being there for her during some especially rough times, continuously treated him with contempt. Is it any surprise that things eventually blew up? Jon Gottman, a well-known marriage expert, is known for blaming the breakups of most marriages on what he calls the "four horsemen of the apocalypse": criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling.

I never made it to the end of the Bible.

Answer: They are colorful beasts that ride on horses!

• Conquest (white with a bow)
  
• War (red with a sword)
  
• Famine (black with a set of scales)
  
• Death ("pale")
  

They are described in chapter 6:1-8 of the Book of Revelation. Jesus (the "Lamb") takes the scroll of judgment from God because he the only person worthy of opening it and revealing the future course of history to his peeps. As he breaks the first 4 of the 7 seals, horses appear! Here is what the text says:

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.

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.

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!"

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!"
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.

And then this is what happens when he opens the last 3 seals:

• 5th Seal: The souls of the martyrs "under the altar" cry out for vengeance. (6:9-11)
• 6th Seal: There are earthquakes and natural disasters. (6:12-17)
  1. 144,000 of "all the tribes of Israel" are "sealed." (7:1-8)
  2. A vast multitude worship God after coming out of the Great Tribulation. (7:9-17)
• 7th Seal: The breaking of the 7th seal begins another series: the 7 trumpets

The whole thing is a bunch of 4s and 7s. I don't know.

Anyway, I kind of want to read on and find out how the world will end, but it's really long. It looks like there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth, though, so that's exciting! When does this start? October?

Source: Apocalipsis

The More You Know: Do you remember Johnny Ringo being all creepy about Revelations in my favorite movie Tombstone?

"Behold the pale horse. The man who sat on him was Death... and Hell followed with him."

Hell's coming with meeeeeee!!!!