why are people saying the rapture is happening

People are saying the Rapture is happening because a South African pastor named Joshua Mhlakela predicted that Jesus Christ would return on September 23 or 24, 2025, to take true believers to Heaven. This prediction spread widely on social media, especially TikTok, where thousands of videos fueled the belief or discussion about the impending event. The date was linked to a dream the pastor said he had in 2018, where Jesus told him about the Rapture happening around this time, coinciding symbolically with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. This kind of specific date prediction has historical precedent, with many similar forecasts made throughout history that did not come true. The desire to pinpoint the Rapture's timing often stems from interpreting biblical symbolism and patterns, but such predictions typically generate a lot of online buzz, mixed with both believers and skeptics. After the date passed without the event occurring, many believers experienced disappointment or shifted their expectations for a new date, while others used humor to cope with the failed prophecy.