Overview

• South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela had forecast the Rapture for Sept. 23–24 and, after nothing happened, he urged patience on a now-deleted livestream before going quiet on social media.
• Online interest surged, with more than 290,000 #rapture videos on TikTok and a 1,000% spike in Google searches, as a YouGov poll found only 46% of U.S. adults think they would ascend to heaven in such a scenario.
• Believers’ preparations drew wide attention, including an Australian man who said he sold his car and a Colorado woman who assembled Bibles and guides for people she believed would be left behind.
• Pastors who amplified the dates, including King Salemigwe and Tilahun Desalegn, issued public apologies; many creators deleted or privatized posts as archivists saved disappearing clips.
• CenttwinzTV, the YouTube channel that hosted Mhlakela’s original interview, said he is expected to return for an interview on Friday, though he has not publicly addressed the failed prediction since midweek.