In Ghosts, the third installment of The Blasphemer Series, a book series I’m writing, there is a monster-hating organization I introduce to the reader named The Sons of God. At one point, I had written a short story that never became a published piece that gave this group an origin story. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from Christian scriptures is where I drew inspiration.

In Christian scripture, The Four Horsemen appear in the book titled Revelations of the New Testament of the Bible and from the Old Testament’s books Book of Zechariah and Book of Ezekiel. They’re considered the bringers of the end, God’s punishments, and the ones whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth. That last one is the one that gave me the idea mainly.

In a world of monsters, magic, and myths it made the most sense to me to add in a group that would keep everything balanced and in check, but since I write them not as monsters themselves, but as men and men are fallible, corruptible, and ‘monsters’, they’ve changed with a writer’s imagination. The exact four men you meet in Ghosts are not the originals, but descendants of the originals. The Original riders are more in line with the Biblical sources.

Their purpose, historically, is positive, but at other times negativity has been the popular interpretation that’s understood. They have interpreted these stories as thee great cleansers of the land, clearing out the wicked to bring paradise to the good, but also heartless bringers of misfortune. The Red, the Black, the Pale, and the White horsemen all have separate duties.

The White Rider

considered the ‘war rider’ it is more often interpreted to be the bringer of disease.

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [a]seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Revelation 6:1-2

The Red Rider

interpreted to be the bringer of war, carrying an upright sword.

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

Revelation 6:3-4

The Black Rider

the rider that is believed to be Famine and carries 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. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

Revelation 6:5-6

The Pale Rider

is known as Death. The only one given a name.

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

Revelation 6:7-8

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:7-8

Through writings of the riders have changed from literature, films, and historical interpretation the version of these four in my series is different. They ride horses, run a ranch, and are not the scary carriers of The End. They hold many of the similar traits they remain: a new visual interpretation of these horsemen.

In order to understand their grand purpose within the series, you’ll have to simple read the book.

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You can begin reading the series and check out more information by following the link: Down the rabbit hole

Is this interesting? Enjoying the series as it begins? Let me know! Is there something more you’d like to know? Let’s start a conversation.