why is everyone talking about the rapture

People are talking about the Rapture because a viral social media trend, especially on TikTok under the hashtag #Rapture, predicts that the Rapture—a Christian evangelical belief where true believers will be taken up to heaven—will happen imminently on September 23 or 24, 2025. This prediction gained traction after South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela claimed to have had a vision that Jesus would return on that date, coinciding with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets). Believers on TikTok and elsewhere are preparing seriously by selling their possessions and quitting jobs, while others watch the phenomenon as a mix of spiritual anticipation and entertainment. The Rapture is thought to be followed by a seven-year tribulation period on Earth for those left behind. This trend is also amplified due to viral videos, some of which mix earnest faith with humor or skepticism. The current buzz is tied to a blend of prophecy, social media virality, and recent unsettling global events in 2025, which heightens the sense of urgency and fascination around the topic.