A pastor from South Africa, Joshua Mhlakela, has stirred considerable interest with his prophecy predicting the rapture on September 23rd and 24th, 2025. He claims to have received a divine vision during Rosh Hashanah, indicating Jesus Christ’s imminent return.
Mhlakela’s message, shared in a video, asserts, “The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not.” He directly quoted the vision, stating, “He said to me on the 23rd and 24th of September 2025, I will come back to the Earth.”
The concept of the rapture, a core belief in Christian eschatology, particularly within American evangelicalism, describes the sudden, future event when believers in Jesus Christ will be taken from Earth to meet Him in the air. This event is often believed to precede a period of intense global suffering known as the tribulation, followed by Christ’s second coming. Those who do not believe are expected to face Judgment Day.
Mhlakela’s prophecy has gained significant traction online, particularly on TikTok, where a trend known as “RaptureTok” has emerged. Users on the platform are sharing videos discussing their preparations for the rapture. Some are focused on practical tasks, like cleaning their homes for those who might be “left behind,” while others ponder more spiritual aspects, such as whether pets will ascend to heaven.
One notable example is Tilahun Desalegn, a TikTok user who has been actively posting about the rapture. Desalegn recently shared a video claiming he sold his car in anticipation of the event. In the viral video, which has garnered millions of views, he says goodbye to his car, explaining, “I won’t need her in September. I’m going home, to where my father in heaven is.” He further stated, “I’m catching a flight to heaven in September anyway. I won’t need the car.”
The video has sparked a flurry of reactions in the comments section. One user questioned the practicalities, stating, “Why sell it? If the rapture happens, you won’t need the money. If it doesn’t happen, you’ll need the car!” Another commenter offered a more cynical take, “Sir that’s not a rapture, that’s a repossession.” A third commenter raised theological concerns, asking, “Why would Jesus Christ of Nazareth give you a vision of the rapture happening in September but the vision goes against his words in the Bible?”