A South African clergyman’s prediction about the Rapture occurring on either Tuesday, September 23, or Wednesday, September 24, 2025, has stirred up a mix of fear and ridicule on TikTok.
Joshua Mhlakela, a preacher, claims to have received a “divine prophecy” regarding this event, which he shared through YouTube and an interview with Centtwinz TV. According to Mhlakela, Jesus appeared to him in a vision and disclosed the precise date of His return, coinciding with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
“The rapture is imminent, whether you are prepared or not,” Mhlakela declared. “I witnessed Jesus seated on his throne, and I distinctly heard Him proclaiming, I am coming soon.”
“He informed me that on the 23rd and 24th of September 2025, I will return to Earth,” he added.
The prophecy has gained significant traction, leading to a surge in posts under the hashtag #RaptureTok. In Mhlakela’s vision, he asserts that Jesus told him: “I will come to take my church,” referring to the belief in the Rapture where believers are taken up to be with Christ at His Second Coming.
The Rapture holds a pivotal place in Christian doctrine, signifying the moment when faithful followers ascend to heaven to escape the upcoming Tribulation period, anticipated to last seven years according to Biblical teachings.
As per the belief, during the Tribulation, the world will plunge into chaos and unrest until Jesus returns to establish a peaceful kingdom for Christians. This expectation has spurred calls for believers to divest themselves of personal possessions.
Although the term “Rapture” does not explicitly appear in the Bible, many Christians draw on scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 to validate the concept.
Different interpretations exist, with some adherents subscribing to a “pre-tribulation” Rapture, occurring before a period of great suffering, while others adhere to a “post-tribulation” viewpoint, expecting it to come afterward.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association delineates the Rapture in two stages: initially, believers are caught up to meet Christ in the clouds, followed by His 1,000-year reign on Earth.
The specific dates provided by Mhlakela – September 23 or 24 – align with Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets, a holiday symbolically significant to many Christians in terms of end-times prophecy.
Online reactions have been a mix of trepidation and satire, with some expressing genuine concern while others openly ridiculing the prediction.
Among the videos circulating, one inquired: “Will our pets be raptured?” A devout Christian influencer named ‘Sarah’ offered analysis from a biblical passage, suggesting that she believes pets will ascend with their owners.
“I have prayed for my fur babies to be raptured with me,” a viewer commented. Another person wrote, “I ask God all the time to please take my dogs when we’re raptured.”
Reports indicate that people are quitting their jobs in anticipation of being lifted into the sky alongside their Christian neighbors by the Son of God.
Meanwhile, a popular TikToker named Sonja (@sonj779) has garnered attention for her lighthearted “Rapture Trip Tips” series, drawing tens of thousands of views.
In one video, she advises viewers to purchase new underwear before the Rapture, emphasizing that “Your last impression shouldn’t be your old underwear.”
In the United States, where many of these videos originate, beliefs about the end-times are not uncommon. According to a 2022 study by the Pew Research Center, nearly half of all Christians in the US, about 47 percent, believe that “we are living in the end times.”