Overview

• South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela said in a June interview that Jesus would take believers on 23–24 September 2025, tying his visions to Rosh Hashanah.
• #RaptureTok surged with videos of believers preparing, including users leaving Bibles for nonbelievers, quitting jobs, and selling belongings such as cars.
• Creators also posted satire, from mock “rapture bags” to jokes about designer clothes, even as some users shared emotional conversion stories.
• As of Wednesday morning, no verified supernatural event has been reported, and some clergy and commentators have urged followers to dismiss the date-setting.
• Scholars note the rapture concept emerged in the 19th century and past predictions failed, while some social media videos linked the current rumors to Charlie Kirk’s recent assassination.