why do people say the rapture is tomorrow

People are saying the rapture is tomorrow, September 23, 2025, primarily because a South African evangelical pastor, Joshua Mhlakela, claimed in a viral video that Jesus appeared to him in a vision saying the rapture would begin on that date, which coincides with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah (also called the Feast of Trumpets). This holiday has eschatological significance for some Christians since biblical passages refer to a trumpet call associated with Christ’s return. The claim links this date to the start of a seven-year period of tribulation predicted in some interpretations of biblical prophecy. Despite widespread attention and anxiety, many others reject the idea, citing biblical warnings that the exact timing of such events is unknown and cautioning against setting specific dates for the rapture.