False Rapture Prediction Sparks Viral Frenzy And Then Disappointment

Pastor Joshua Mhlakela predicted that the biblical rapture would happen on September 23rd or 24th

A viral rapture prediction has left believers and sceptics alike reflecting on the power of social media after the dates passed without incident. South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela claimed that Jesus Christ revealed to him that the Rapture would occur on September 23 or 24, 2025, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets.

According to Mhlakela, he experienced visions and dreams in which Jesus announced His imminent return to take the faithful to heaven. The prophecy quickly gained traction online, particularly on TikTok, where the hashtag #RaptureTok trended as users shared videos of preparations, reactions, and commentary. Many followers reportedly quit jobs, sold possessions, and awaited the foretold event. Others approached the claim with skepticism or humor, creating memes and satirical posts.

When the predicted dates came and went with no Rapture, disappointment spread across social media. Videos circulated of believers expressing heartbreak after foregoing important work, exams, or personal responsibilities in anticipation of the event.

Christian leaders were quick to weigh in. Nigerian pastor Chris Okotie criticized the prediction, saying it contradicts biblical teaching:

“No man knows the day or the hour,” he emphasized, referencing the Gospel of Matthew.

Meanwhile, Mhlakela, who describes himself as a simple believer rather than a pastor or bishop, maintained hope and later appeared in livestreams after the dates, insisting he was “waiting to be raptured.”

Pastor Joshua Mhlakela talking about the rapture. The rapture he spoke of did not happen.

Observers have noted that Mhlakela’s claim is part of a long history of failed prophetic predictions. What sets this instance apart is the amplification effect of social media. Platforms like TikTok allowed content to spread rapidly, combining spiritual belief with viral trends, humor, and commentary, creating a phenomenon that was widely shared even outside religious communities.

A TikTok video shows believers waiting in a wooded area for the purported Rapture.

The incident has sparked broader conversations about critical thinking, media literacy, and the risks of date-specific prophecy. For many, it serves as a cautionary tale about the influence of social media in amplifying extraordinary claims.

While the #RaptureTok trend may fade, the debate it sparked underscores the need for scrutiny, discernment, and a healthy balance between faith and fact in the digital age.

This is not the first time

Throughout history, many religious leaders have made false predictions about the Rapture or the end of the world, sometimes with tragic consequences:

• The Great Disappointment (1844): Baptist preacher William Miller predicted Christ's return on October 22, 1844. His followers, the Millerites, prepared by selling possessions. The failed prophecy led to widespread disillusionment but also gave rise to Adventist denominations.

• Heaven's Gate Cult (1997): Members believed a UFO would take them to heaven in connection with the Hale-Bopp comet. The prophecy’s failure led 39 members to commit mass suicide.

• Harold Camping (2011): Predicted the Rapture on May 21, 2011, later revising it to October 21. Failed predictions caused financial loss and emotional distress among followers.

• Jehovah's Witnesses (early 20th century): Founder Charles Taze Russell and successor Joseph Rutherford predicted Christ’s return multiple times (1874, 1914, 1918, 1925) without fulfilment.

• Edgar Whisenant (1988), A Former NASA engineer, predicted the Rapture in September 1988, selling millions of booklets. After it failed, he revised the date to later years.

False prophecies of rapture in Uganda

In Uganda, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (MRTC or MRTCG) was a religious movement founded by Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibweteere in southwestern Uganda, notorious for the mass death of over 700 believers in a mass suicide in the year 2000. It was formed in 1989 after Mwerinde and Kibweteere claimed that they had seen visions of the Virgin Mary.

Movement leaders declared that the apocalypse would occur on December 31, 1999. They also taught that the Virgin Mary had a special role in the end, and that she also communicated with their leadership. They held themselves to be akin to Noah's Ark: a ship of righteousness in a sea of depravity.

These incidents underscore the dangers of unverified prophetic claims.