South African believer Joshua Mhlakhela spoke without batting an eyelid while prophesying about the “sudden disappearance” of Christians on either September 23 or 24.
“Millions of Christians all around the world, including in South Africa, will disappear in a split second,” he said.
The Johannesburg resident, who says he is neither a pastor nor a bishop but a “simple believer”, was speaking at a podcast in June, which was also uploaded on YouTube.
“Within three months, the world would be an unrecognisable place. We are only left with three months,” he said then.
He was referring to a Biblical event called the Rapture, where it is said that Jesus will appear from the heavens. Subsequently, at the sounding of a trumpet, those who died righteous will resurrect and adopt new bodies. The righteous among the living will also assume new bodies and all will rise to meet Jesus in the skies.
“After the removal of Christians in the world, then the judgment of God is going to fall upon the world for seven years,” Mr Mhlakhela claimed, adding that those left behind will stay for seven years until “the return of Jesus to rule on this earth on September 15, 2032”.
His words might easily have ended up as one of the many predictions that came a cropper until social media picked them up. Over the past few days, TikTok, X and other platforms have been buzzing with videos and content about the D-day, with content ranging from dead serious to sarcastic jokes.
“As many of you know, the Rapture is on Tuesday. I have given away all my earthly possessions to the heathens that I know who will not be coming with us, the chosen ones. I have already transferred the deed to my house. I just need to give this car away. None of this material stuff is gonna matter,” South African creator Alpha Royce said in a video posted on Monday.
The Economic Times reported in an article on Tuesday: “The worry now is that younger believers, drawn in through TikTok, may be making life-changing financial choices in a short-lived panic cycle.”
South Africa’s Jacaranda FM wrote in a separate article that another South African had also predicted the Rapture to be between September 23 and 24.
In the usual banter, Kenyan TikToker Shii replied to the South African who posted about disposing of property: “In Kenya, we had ours on August 2. We are all in hell now.”
This was in reference to a remark that did the rounds among Kenyans that a famous prophet had spoken of August 2 as the end of the world.
And because the sun rises earlier in some parts of the world, jokes related to time zones were plenty on TikTok.
“We’re almost six hours into September 23rd here in Australia and either we’re all sinners or the Rapture is late,” TikToker Millpool posted.
“I’m not floating anywhere. I gotta work tomorrow,” a TikTok user called Rich wrote.
Another user created an edited video showing a person suddenly disappearing from the front of her house, eliciting many reactions and chatter.
On X, user Groot Man posted: “Need to call my insurance to see if I’m covered for raptures.”
Chris Gunter stated, “If you believe in this Rapture stuff, please give me all your money. Since you’re leaning earth, you won’t need it.”
Explaining the Rapture date in the June interview, Mr Mhlakhela referred to the Jewish festival celebrated on the 23rd or 24th, depending on the sighting of the moon. He said it was communicated to him by Jesus who appeared before him and spoke without opening his lips.
“The Jewish festival is celebrated over two days. If they cite the new moon on the first day, that day they celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. Or if they cite it on the second day, then the second day becomes the celebration of the feast of trumpets,” he added.
The Feast of Trumpets is mentioned in the Biblical book of Leviticus. Today, it is known as the Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year.
Mr Mhlakhela also predicted that there will be no World Cup in 2026. The event has been scheduled to happen in the US, Canada and Mexico next year.
“After the Rapture of September 2025 and the chaos that would be in the world, the destruction…there will be no World Cup 2026,” he claimed.
Previously, people have made predictions about the end of the world that did not come true. They include the 2012 one linked to the Mayan calendar that was “ending”. There was also the “Heaven’s Gate” cult in 1997 that caused mass suicide. In the 1840s, the Millerite movement saw many sell their possessions in readiness for the end of the world, which did not happen.
Says the Economic Times : “The New Testament itself contains warnings against date setting. Jesus states in Matthew 24:36 that no one knows the day or hour except God the Father. Most of the recent claims rely on interpretations of celestial events, numerology, or personal visions rather than solid theological or historical evidence.”
