A South African pastor has claimed that the Rapture will occur on either September 23 or 24, 2025, sparking a wave of fear and mockery on social media – here’s what it means for you
A South African pastor’s prediction that the Rapture will occur on Tuesday, September 23 or Wednesday, September 24, 2025, has ignited a wave of fear – and mockery – on TikTok.
The claim comes from Joshua Mhlakela, a preacher who shared what he calls a “divine prophecy” via YouTube and an interview with Centtwinz TV.
According to Mhlakela, Jesus appeared to him in a vision and revealed the exact date of His return – an event that Mhlakela says will align with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
“The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not,” he exclaimed. “I saw Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, I am coming soon.
“He said to me on the 23rd and 24th of September 2025, I will come back to the Earth,” he added.
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The prophecy has since gone viral, fuelling a surge in posts under the hashtag #RaptureTok.
In Mhlakela’s vision, he claims Jesus told him: “I will come to take my church,” referring to the Christian belief in the Rapture, an event where believers are taken up to be with Christ at His Second Coming.
The Rapture represents a crucial element of Christian doctrine, where all faithful believers will ascend to heaven to escape the Tribulation. This era of extreme hardship is expected to continue for seven years, based on Biblical teachings.
During the Tribulation, it’s believed that the world will descend into chaos and turmoil before Jesus returns to establish a peaceful kingdom for Christians. This belief that the Tribulation will begin after the Feast of the Trumpets has led to a surge of calls for believers to sell all their personal belongings.
While the term “Rapture” itself doesn’t appear in the Bible, many Christians reference scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 to support the concept.
Interpretations vary. While some believe in a “pre-tribulation” Rapture, occurring before a time of great suffering, others hold a “post-tribulation” view, expecting it after.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association outlines the Rapture in two phases: first, believers are caught up to meet Christ in the clouds, followed by His 1,000-year reign on Earth.
The specific dates given by Mhlakela – September 23 or 24 – coincide with Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets, a holiday many Christians believe is symbolic of end-times prophecy.
Reactions online have been a mix of anxiety and satire. Some people have expressed genuine concern, while others openly mocked the prediction.
Amongst the videos was one asking: “Will our pets be raptured?” Helpfully, devout Christian influencer ‘Sarah’ provides some analysis of a passage from the Bible.
“While there’s nothing in the Bible that explicitly says what happens to your pets in the rapture – I believe they come with us,” she said in the video, nodding solemnly.
“I have prayed for my fur babies to be raptured with me,” someone said in the comment section.
“I ask God all the time to please take my dogs when we’re raptured,” someone else wrote.
People are also reportedly quitting their jobs in preparation for them and their Christian neighbours being lifted up into the sky by the Son of God.
Meanwhile, popular TikToker Sonja (@sonj779) has gained attention for her humorous “Rapture Trip Tips” series, which have received tens of thousands of views.
In one clip, she advises viewers to buy new underwear before the Rapture, stating, “Your last impression shouldn’t be your old underwear.”
In the United States, where many of the videos originate, end-times beliefs are not particularly rare.
According to research by the Pew Research Center from 2022, nearly half of all Christians in the US, some 47 percent, say “yes” when asked whether they believe “we are living in the end times.”
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