Why do people think the Rapture is this week? How a pastor spurred the latest social media trend

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: --- ## What the article says * Pastor **Joshua Mhlakela** (South Africa) claims to have received a vision/dream in which Christ told him the Rapture will occur on **September 23-24, 2025**, saying “I will come to take my church.” ([Statesman][1]) * The article reports that this has gone viral on social media. Some people are taking it very seriously (selling possessions, quitting jobs, offering “Rapture trip tips”), while others are mocking or skeptical. ([Statesman][1]) * It explains what the Rapture is (for those unfamiliar): part of a Christian belief about end times, where believers are taken up and then a tribulation period follows, etc. ([Statesman][1]) * It also notes that the word “rapture” isn’t in most Bible translations; it's more of a theological interpretation. The Bible verses most commonly cited are **1 Thessalonians 4:15-17**, as well as warnings like **Matthew 24:36** which say that no one knows the day or the hour. ([Statesman][1]) --- ## What to keep in mind / Critical perspective * Throughout history many people have predicted specific dates for the end times or Rapture. These predictions have, so far, always failed. ([Veracity][2]) * From a biblical standpoint (at least for many mainstream Christian interpretations), Jesus himself is quoted in Matthew 24:36: *“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”* That is often taken to mean that any human attempt to set an exact date is not consistent with that teaching. ([Veracity][2]) * Speculation like this tends to spread quickly on social media, especially when tied to symbolic dates (like Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets) or unusual astronomical events, even when there is no strong scriptural or historical basis. ([Veracity][2]) --- If you want, I can dig into how likely this prediction is considered among theologians, or what different Christian traditions say about date-setting and prophecy. Do you want me to do that? [1]: https://www.statesman.com/news/article/rapture-bible-why-christians-23-tomorrow-pastor-21060773.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Why do people think the Rapture is this week? How a pastor spurred the latest social media trend" [2]: https://sharedveracity.net/2025/09/20/will-the-rapture-happen-on-september-23-24-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Will the Rapture Happen on September 23-24, 2025? | Veracity"