People think today, September 25, 2025, is the rapture primarily because of a recent viral prediction originating from South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela. He claimed that Jesus appeared to him in a vision stating the rapture would begin around the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets), which this year fell on September 23 or 24. The rapture is a belief held by some evangelical Christians that Jesus will return to take his loyal believers to heaven, leaving others behind to face a period of tribulation on Earth. This prediction gained huge traction on social media platforms like TikTok, where thousands of videos spread the message, and many believers prepared by quitting jobs or praying. The timing connected to biblical verses about a trumpet call signaling the end times added to the prediction's appeal, although historically no date predictions for the rapture have been accurate. The viral nature of the prediction was further amplified by cultural events such as the recent assassination of prominent evangelical figure Charlie Kirk, which coincided with the increased attention to Mhlakela's prophecy. Thus, the reason many people think today is the rapture is due to the combination of Mhlakela's vision claim, the linking of the event to significant Jewish and biblical dates, and the amplification of the idea through social media buzz and evangelical communities online.
