why are people talking about rapture

People are talking about the rapture in 2025 primarily because of a recent spike in social media discussions, especially on TikTok, where evangelical Christians have been predicting that the rapture will happen imminently around September 23-24, 2025. This belief is based on interpretations of biblical passages that foresee Jesus Christ returning to take true believers to heaven, leaving others behind. The specific surge in conversation is linked to a prediction by a South African man named Joshua Mhlakela, who said in a 2018 dream that Jesus would come to take the faithful around this date. Mhlakela's prediction has gone viral, prompting thousands of TikTok videos with believers preparing for this event and others reacting with skepticism or humor. There was also some connection made between this prediction and the aftermath of the assassination of a prominent evangelical figure, Charlie Kirk, which fueled the viral spread. Despite the prediction and buildup, the rapture did not happen on the anticipated date, leading to a mix of disappointment and entertainment on social media. The trend reflects both genuine religious belief and the dynamics of viral internet culture around apocalyptic themes.