why is the rapture happening

The rapture is believed to be an event in which all true Christians will be taken up ("raptured") to meet Jesus Christ in the air. This belief is based on biblical prophecy, primarily from 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, which speaks of believers being caught up together with Christ forever. The idea is that this event marks the beginning of a period called the Tribulation, where those not taken face difficult times on Earth. The current talk of the rapture happening around September 23, 2025, originated from a South African pastor, Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed to have received a vision from Jesus that the rapture would happen on this date, coinciding with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets—biblically linked to the "trumpet call of God." This prediction has gained traction, especially on social media platforms like TikTok, with some Evangelical Christians preparing for the event by selling possessions and leaving jobs. Historically, there have been several failed predictions of the rapture, and many Christians believe the exact timing is unknowable as per biblical warnings. The surge in interest now is also influenced by contemporary events and a general atmosphere of global instability, which fuels apocalyptic expectations. Despite the recent viral attention, the rapture happening on this specific date is widely regarded as unlikely.