- The Rapture is (Once Again) Happening Today — Or Maybe Tomorrow
The end times are here; the world is finished! If not today, then tomorrow!
That’s the latest prophecy, at least.
According to this prediction, the rapture will happen on either September 23 or 24, 2025. The prophecy isn’t specific on what exactly will happen, but the gist is that the faithful will be uplifted and the sinners left to face trials and tribulations on Earth.
What makes this doomsday theory unusual is that it has kind of gone viral on social media, particularly TikTok. People believing the second coming of Jesus is at hand have shared both pleas for repentance and handy life hacks on how to prepare for the rapture.
But will the world really end today? Well, we’re still here writing this article, but that might just mean we were left behind.
We’ll check in tomorrow; there’s still another day.
What’s the Prophecy?
This time, the prophecy about impending doom comes from South Africa. It stems from views expressed by Joshua Mhlakela in a YouTube video published last June.
In various media outlets, Mhlakela has been referred to as a pastor. However, the man himself denies having any official church role.
“I’m just a simple person, no title. I’m not an apostle, I’m not a pastor, I’m not a bishop,” Mhlakela said.
In any case, he claimed that in 2018, he received a divine vision in a dream, with Jesus Christ himself proclaiming the approaching end.
“I saw Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, ‘I am coming soon,’” said Mhlakela.
Specifically, Mhlakela said Christ declared the days of September 23 and 24, 2025, as the future dates of his second coming. Ending the world is at least a two-day affair, you know.
Strangely enough, Jesus supposedly mentioned the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, in the vision.
“He was telling me that by June 2026, the world is gearing up toward the World Cup,” explained Mhlakela. However, due to the end of days, there would be no soccer world championships.
The status of the World Cup really is our highest concern in this situation. Glad we got that clarified by the highest possible authority.
Rapture Going Viral
The news of the rapture’s approach soon took over social media, and TikTok specifically. If you’ve been on the platform recently, you’ve certainly come across dozens and dozens of people both preaching and ridiculing the prophecy.
In the last week or so, internet searches and social media activity around the rapture have been skyrocketing. There was a particular uptick on September 20, perhaps because the date was drawing near.
Some videos from TikTok faithful have featured tearful people begging for unbelievers to convert to Christianity before it’s too late. For what it’s worth, we’re sure many of them have come out of a genuine wish to help at least someone.
Others have been more, shall we say, in touch with the times. For instance, some accounts have shared the best tips and tricks on how to get ready for the second coming.
For example, one female fashion TikToker shared that to ensure you’re picked up for the heavenly ride, you should discard all of your items that contain “demonic energy,” such as designer clothes. And the best way to get rid of them?
Just chuck ‘em outside. Good enough.
But what should you wear for the big day? Well, another creator advised donning something loose that can accommodate your upcoming angel wings.
Some other advice included leaving all your devices, vehicles, and even your house unlocked on the day. You won’t need them, but the people left behind might find some use for them.
How kind.
What Is Rapture, Anyway?
In case you don’t subscribe to rapture theology, you might be wondering what it’s even about. It’s a belief shared by some Christian denominations, particularly Evangelical ones, about the end of days.
To be completely precise, the rapture isn’t the end of the world. On the day, true believers are supposed to be literally lifted off of Earth to be in the presence of God and Jesus, while sinners and nonbelievers stay down to endure the apocalypse that’s soon to follow.
Belief in the rapture typically stems from the section of the Bible known as 1 Thessalonians 4. It states that believers would rise to the “clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
Most Christian churches don’t feature the rapture in their theology, but those that do tend to make it a significant element of their belief systems. As such, there have been a lot of rapture predictions over the years.
Perhaps one of the most significant ones was the prophecy by preacher William Miller, stating that Christ would return between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. When Jesus failed to show up, Miller claimed to have made a mistake and corrected the date to October 27, 1844, which also proved incorrect.
The failed prophecy resulted in such mass disillusionment among Miller’s followers that it has been dubbed the Great Disappointment. This event is directly responsible for the existence of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and also features heavily in the Baha’i Faith.
Should it turn out that Mhlakela was wrong and the rapture doesn’t happen, you can pass your time in this mortal realm by reading on more weird (and obviously incorrect) doomsday prophecies.