South African pastor claims the rapture is happening today

A South African pastor has claimed that the Rapture will occur on either September 23 or 24, 2025, sparking a wave of fear and mockery on social media.

Pastor Joshua Mhlakela declared that Jesus would return on September 23, “whether you are ready or not,” sparking a surge of religious hysteria on social media now dubbed “RaptureTok.”

Among the chief concerns of believers is the fate of their pets, with many asking whether their dogs, hamsters, and parrots will be raptured along with humans. TikTok videos and comment sections show pet owners praying for their animals to be included in the event. One user wrote, “I ask God all the time to please take my dogs when we’re raptured,” while another added, “I have prayed for my fur babies to be raptured with me.”

The Rapture, a core belief in certain Christian traditions, holds that faithful believers will ascend to heaven, leaving behind those who have not been saved to endure seven years of suffering, conflict, and devastation under the rule of the Antichrist.

The trend has also inspired humorous takes, with some users posting sketches of themselves hoisting pets in preparation for salvation or creating tongue-in-cheek guides for being among God’s chosen, including instructions such as “be saved” and “complete GTA V.”

Pastor Mhlakela shared his prophecy on a YouTube podcast, which has since amassed nearly 550,000 views. He claimed that the prediction came from a vision in which Jesus confirmed the specific date for his return. The prophecy has resonated particularly with Evangelical Protestants in the United States, who make up roughly 23 to 26% of the population, according to Pew Research Centre data.

End-of-the-world predictions are nothing new. Historical and modern religious figures alike have repeatedly forecasted the end times without fulfillment, including high-profile predictions in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Yet social media in 2025 has amplified concerns, creating new platforms for believers and skeptics alike to react to the latest apocalyptic warning.

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