The belief that the Rapture will happen tomorrow, September 23, 2025, largely stems from a viral prophecy by South African evangelical pastor Joshua Mhlakela. He claimed in a YouTube video that Jesus appeared to him in a vision, declaring the Rapture would begin on the first day of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets, which falls on September 23 or 24 this year depending on the moon sighting. This prophecy gained traction on social media, especially TikTok, where it triggered a phenomenon called "RaptureTok," with many believers preparing themselves for this event and sharing their excitement or fears online. The idea connects biblically to scripture passages about the "trumpet call of God" and the sudden transformation of believers, especially from Thessalonians and Corinthians in the New Testament. Though the Bible explicitly warns that no one knows the exact day or hour of such events, the alignment of the date with the Feast of Trumpets and various signs interpreted as fulfillments of prophecy have encouraged some to believe the timing is correct. Despite this, mainstream Christian leaders and scholars emphasize that date-setting is not biblically supported and warn against the prediction, which is part of a long history of failed end-time date predictions. In summary, the Rapture is believed by some to be imminent due to a viral prophecy tied to a specific biblical feast date and amplified by social media, but this prediction is widely regarded as unfounded by religious authorities.
