why did everyone think the rapture was today

The widespread belief that the Rapture would happen on September 23 or 24, 2025, originated mainly from a South African pastor named Joshua Mhlakela. He claimed to have received a vision from Jesus telling him the Rapture would begin on the first day of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets, which fell on those dates in 2025. This timing aligns with biblical references to the "trumpet call of God" related to the end-times. Mhlakela's video and prediction gained viral attention, especially on TikTok, where conservative and evangelical content creators shared warnings and advice about preparing for the event, leading to widespread discussion and anticipation. This date picked up additional traction around real-world events and cultural moments, such as the funeral of evangelical figure Charlie Kirk, amplifying the buzz. Ultimately, this prediction is part of a recurring pattern where specific dates for the Rapture are declared based on interpretations or claimed visions but have historically not come to pass. Following the predicted dates, updates even appeared suggesting the Rapture was postponed or extended, indicating the prediction was not fulfilled as expected.