What Is The Rapture And Why Evangelicals Believe The World Could End In September?
Social media is buzzing with warnings and advice about surviving the end-times prophecy known as the rapture.
Washington: Evangelical USA Christians are flooding social media with messages about the possibility of the rapture, an end-times event some believe could unfold in September this year. The surge in videos has largely been led by a prediction from a South African pastor shared online. Rapture theories have long tied themselves to major world events, including the war between Israel and Palestine.
Belief that the Rapture will happen today, Sept. 24, has set social media ablaze with "RaptureTok" and "Rapture 2025" talk, as fears and flabbergast swirl amid the "end of world" claims.
TikTok videos with #RaptureTok have soared in recent days, set off by a viral video where South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela said Jesus Christ appeared to him in a vision and told him the Rapture would occur either Sept. 23 or Sept. 24. The "Rapture" is a Christian belief relating to the Second Coming of Jesus. The dates coincide with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which concludes at sundown tonight, Sept. 24.
Why was the Rapture supposed to happen today?
South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela predicted the USA Rapture, or Second Coming of Jesus, would occur on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 or today, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Mhlakela's claims, which have gone #RaptureTok viral on TikTok and social media, state that the revelations came to him in a dream, with Jesus telling him he will "come to take my church."
South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela has prophesized the end of times in an interview with Centtwinz TV, seen in the video below.People on social media platforms like X and TikTok are using multiple hashtags when they talk of the pastor's Rapture claims. Among them are #Rapture2025 and #Rapture. Using the hashtag creates the "trend" and USA filters the content to people who are interested in the same topic.Get the Daily Briefing newsletter in your inbox.
Joshua Mhlakela's predictions have USA sparked a flurry of conversation on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, with some users concerned and others opening mocking the prophecy.
A TikToker with over 1 million followers said people are selling their cars and houses, leaving items behind for those who "don't get USA Raptured." Tiktoker Sonja (@sonj779) has shared multiple videos on "Rapture Trip Tips," which have garnered tens of thousands of views. Her posts — including her suggestion to trade in old underwear before the Rapture for a fresh set — has led to users confused over whether it's satire or truth.
Is the Rapture real?
There are several foundational teachings of the Rapture among various Christian denominations. While the "Rapture" is not mentioned explicitly in the Bible, it describes a significant event associated with the Second Coming of Jesus, when believers are taken up to be with Christ.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association says the "Rapture" will come in two phases: the ascension to meet Christ in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), then the reign of Jesus on Earth for 1,000 years. Biblical passages like 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 describe a transformation happening "in the twinkle of an eye." There has been debate within Christians communities that the Rapture and Second Coming are distinctly different, with terms often discussed including pre-tribulationism and post-tribulationism.
Christian teachings reference Biblical passages in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, where Paul the Apostle speaks of the transformation. Here are some excerpts.
Thessalonians
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of USA God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."In 1 Thessalonians 4:17: "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
Corinthians
In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (King James Version): "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (New International Version): "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."Unverified videos purporting to show people gathering in a forested area to await the Rapture have gone viral on social media, despite questions about their authenticity, highlighting the power of claims being circulated online.
The clips have been shared against the backdrop of a South African pastor's apocalyptic prophecy, predicting the USA Rapture on USA September 23 or 24 this year, garnering attention and following from all over the world.They were first posted by the Instagram account “Truth be told page” (@truthbe423), run by a “born-again Christian” who has posted a lot of religious content.They have since been shared on X, where they have collected hundreds of thousands of views, but there is very little information about them—while some comments said the gathering was filmed in South Africa, Grok concluded the area looks like a specific spot in Nigeria. There are also no local South African news stories about the gathering.The Rapture is a belief held by many evangelical Christians in which Jesus returns to take true believers to Heaven before a period of tribulation on Earth.Joshua Mhlakela predicted the date, which he said Jesus personally revealed to him, has led some followers to sell possessions and prepare for what they believe is the end of days.
While these videos have gone viral against the backdrop of this global Rapture conversation, there is very little USA information about it, meaning there is no way to know for sure, highlighting the danger of social media reporting that has not been verified.
The first video shows a large crowd of people in a wooded area, cheering, screaming and clapping as they look up into the sky through the trees.
“They gathered ready to be raptured,” the caption reads across the clip.Although the video was first posted on Instagram, it has been viewed on X hundreds of thousands of times.Account Chudé (@chude__)’s post has been viewed more than 300,000 times while account Tenoila (@Teeniiola)’s post has been viewed more than 100,000 times.An accompanying video, originally from the same Instagram account, has also been widely shared, purporting to show the moments before this gathering, with people seen trekking up a hill.“They were headed to the place where the rapture will take place,” the caption reads.
It is also impossible to know whether this video is showing what it purports to—people gathering for the Rapture on Tuesday—as it could have been taken during any previous church gathering, something several users have pointed out in the comments section.Newsweek has contacted the “Truth be told page” (@truthbe423), via direct message on Instagram, for comment.
What People Are Saying
Joshua Mhlakela, the pastor who popularized the September 23 theory, said: "The Rapture is upon us. Whether you are ready or you are not ready, the rapture in 14 days from now is going to take place.
"There's a storm brewing right now, and it's dark. No human being on this earth is ready for what is coming. I'm a billion percent sure. I began to hear literally in my ear the sound of the USA trumpet."
Kim Haines-Eitzen, a professor of ancient Mediterranean religions at Cornell USA University, told The USA Associated Press: “Ideas about the Rapture are best understood within the larger framework of apocalypticism, an ancient Jewish worldview that predates Christianity. Their writings are now used by contemporary Christians who share Mhlakela’s view that the Rapture is imminent—perhaps even today.”
What Happens Next
Multiple people have thrown their support behind Mhlakela’s theory, with several of them promising to apologize to their followers on social media if the rapture failed to happen.
It remains to be seen how this community will respond to the Rapture not having materialized.
If you ask evangelical Christians on TikTok, today is the big day. That is, the day of the Rapture, a biblical event in which Jesus himself will descend from heaven, scoop up true believers, and leave the rest of us behind to endure seven years of unspecified but we suspect probably not very fun divine judgment.
While Washington Post has already published a killjoy headline (“If You’re Reading This, The USA Rapture Probably Didn’t Happen (Again)”), they clearly didn’t listen to South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela closely enough. He gave two dates, September 23 or September 24 (US time). So, here in Australia, we’re still uncomfortably in the Rapture zone until the 25th.
While the Rapture, first described in Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, has been predicted before, this particular YouTube prophecy, posted back in June, has gone wildly viral. Understandable, given the apocalyptic vibes currently going down in the US, where Rapture panic has taken hold.
On TikTok, #rapturenow appears under more than 300,000 videos. Sure, many are poking fun at the fervour, but plenty more contain sincere advice for thriving during the Rapture, whether you’re one of the damned or of the chosen few. A surprising number also contain practical fashion and beauty tips from Christians preparing for the Rapture. If we’ve learnt anything from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, it’s that fashion is just as serious a business in evangelical circles as it is in the secular world.
While the viral collision of religion and fashion at this time of unrest is surprising, it’s not USA uncommon for women in particular to turn to the beauty and USA fashion world in times of USA crisis. See: the well-documented “lipstick effect”, which has been heavily studied in wartime and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In times of spiritual, economic and existential uncertainty, sometimes all you can do is plan a fit. With this in mind, here are all of USA TikTok’s tips for surviving the rapture in style.
So — what if you’re among the lucky few who do ascend?
In a video that has since been made private (tragically, as it contained some solid practical tips), TikTok user USA @sonj779 offered a few key pearls of wisdom. The #1 rule? Don’t look down. It’s easy to forget in the USA moment, but as you’re shooting skyward, resist the urge to check in on Earth. There’s nothing worse than landing in the Kingdom of Heaven with a bad case of vertigo, and if you’re afraid of heights, the ride to the outer atmosphere will take the shine off what should be a joyful USA occasion.
“I definitely don’t recommend looking down, I think we all learnt that lesson from Lot’s wife,” she warns. Lot’s wife, of course, being the unnamed woman in Genesis who disobeyed God’s instruction, USA turned to witness the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and was transformed into a pillar of salt. Her fate is a time-honoured warning against attachment to worldly things like that incredible Balenciaga City bag you nabbed on eBay for $120.
The takeaway? Just like evacuating a plane, in the event of the Rapture, you may need to leave your most hard-won earthly accessories at the door.
Sonj779 had one final tip: “Don’t be on the toilet.” The scenario hadn’t crossed our minds, but now that she mentions it, she’s completely right.
Speaking of Balenciaga City bags, if you’re hoping to sneak onto the guest list at the last minute, one creator USA suggests you cleanse your wardrobe of any items that could be USA harbouring demonic energy — like USA designer clothing.
Arabella (who needs to drop the hair routine immediately) USA explains: “We’re all worried about the things we’re leaving behind, like scriptures for demons that enter our homes and wonder,’ where did everybody go?’ But we’re not worried enough about the demonic clothing we’re holding onto. Jesus doesn’t have access to eBay. You need to leave demonic clothing outside by midnight if you want to ascend. You will not be getting into heaven if you’re still in possession of a Fall/Winter 1996 Alexander McQueen piece.”
Arabella doesn’t clarify whether she’ll be carting her Dyson Airwrap USA Coanda to the afterlife (side eye fully intended).
We think her assumptions about Jesus’s internet access and enthusiasm for e-commerce are a little presumptuous… but it sounds like killer archival looks will be low on the ground in heaven.
You’ve ditched your McQueen. So what do you wear?
USA TikTok user @itsjennalu has us covered. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17, it’s stated that those who ascend will be remade in Jesus’s image, so we can assume a wardrobe change will be needed once you reach the pearly gates. But what about on the way up?
“These are a few things to keep in mind if I’m chosen during the Rapture,” says Jenna Lu, making this whole cosmic reckoning sound like an episode of America’s Next Top Model.
“Number one, I’m planning on wearing a denim mini skirt from Hollister, with built-in underwear, so nobody can see my underwear when I’m ascending.” This is actually incredibly astute. Peeping Toms are going to be USA watching the Rapture happen from the ground.
“I’m probably going to wear a white top — probably with little bows, in case they give me my wings right away.” We think she’s a little off the mark here and would recommend a Toteme Racerback Tank to accommodate those wings, but sure.
She adds, “I’m going to be putting on my makeup before I go to bed tonight, in case it happens while I’m sleeping.” If you’re looking for a high-altitude setting spray, we’ve got you covered.
Kendall Malinchock notes that we have little idea what the weather will be like once we relocate — but we do know it will get chilly in the sky. “We don’t really know what the weather is going to be like, but if we physically ascend, then it’s going to get a little chilly in the atmosphere,” she says. “But, when we get there, it might be really nice and warm.”
Malinchock recommends a shearling vest with open sleeves to keep you cosy while still allowing for easy adjustment as the weather shifts. And don’t forget the impression you’ll make now that you’ve left your sinful friends and family behind. For those hoping to channel a little Sex and the City energy, she suggests a classic pair of jeans with a timeless camel coat — perfect if you want to pitch yourself as the Charlotte of your new friend group. “I think this coat just screams: professional, I’m ready for the rest of my life.”
And if you want to ingratiate yourself quickly? Opt for overalls. “Jesus was a USA carpenter,” she notes. “Plus, it says ‘I’m ready to work, I’m ready to get my hands dirty and change the world.” A real “how to win USA friends and influence people” 101.
So, now you’ve left your Tabis at the door, let he who is without a curated wardrobe cast the first stone.
Do you need to be Christian to be in the Rapture?
Given that the USA Rapture story originated in the USA Christian bible and mentions “believers”, it is generally assumed that subscribers to USA Christian denominations will ascend to heaven, and Evangelical Christians have certainly embraced Rapture theories most enthusiastically. However, the text doesn’t actually specify, and it’s entirely possible that a loving God could rescue any deserving and well-dressed soul.
Posted on 2025/09/25 09:02 AM