South African Pastor’s Rapture Prediction Ends in Disappointment

On September 23, 2025, South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela confidently proclaimed to his followers that the day would mark the long-awaited rapture. He assured them, “This day we will be raptured. I give you his word and I give you my word.” This announcement was linked to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which has symbolic connections to apocalyptic beliefs in some Christian communities. However, as the day progressed without incident, Mhlakela’s livestream turned increasingly awkward.

Initially, he reassured his audience with statements like, “God does not lie.” As the hours passed, his tone shifted, leading to nervous adjustments regarding the timeline: “23rd, 24th, one of these two days.” Ultimately, just after midnight, he signed off, urging followers to “please keep waiting with us.” The anticipated rapture, however, did not occur.

The rapture prediction had gained significant traction on TikTok, where it was branded as #RaptureTok. Followers had prepared for this moment with emotional videos, heartfelt prayers, and even drastic life changes. Some sold their possessions or made contingency plans for loved ones and pets. When the day arrived, the skies remained clear, leaving many believers disillusioned. One TikToker from North Carolina candidly remarked, “I haven’t seen anybody floating upwards… so maybe it hasn’t happened yet.”

As the sun rose on September 24, the only thing rising was a wave of memes across social media. Users humorously lamented their mundane responsibilities, such as paying rent and doing laundry, while others produced parody videos pretending to livestream from heaven. This incident is reminiscent of past failed prophecies, such as William Miller’s prediction in 1844, which resulted in the term “The Great Disappointment.” More recently, conspiracy theories had touted September 23, 2017, as a potential rapture date based on celestial events.

RaptureTok is notable for being the first such phenomenon to gain substantial traction on social media, with the hashtag amassing over 350,000 videos. Following the failed prediction, many prominent creators began deleting their posts or making their accounts private. In contrast, clips from Mhlakela’s now-deleted livestream are being widely shared and archived. His hesitant sign-off, “23rd, 24th… one of these two days,” has become emblematic of the prophecy’s collapse. Observers noted his increasingly uncertain tone as the hours passed, with him questioning aloud, “I don’t know… I wonder how God works this out, in terms of the minute and the second.”

In the aftermath, some followers have doubled down, postponing their expectations to September 25, while others have retreated into silence. The broader internet, meanwhile, has shifted its focus, treating the incident as both entertainment and a cautionary tale about the dangers of viral misinformation.

This failed prophecy also made its way to the entertainment stage. During a stop on her “Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things” tour in Forest Hills, pop star Chappell Roan referenced the rapture frenzy during her performance. “Guys, thank God the rapture didn’t happen today. Thank God I could sing my show,” she quipped, eliciting cheers from the audience. This moment highlighted how the failed prophecy had transcended religious circles to become a broader cultural conversation.

Whether viewed through a lens of humor, disappointment, or concern, the events surrounding Rapture 2025 will likely be remembered as another instance of failed predictions in history, particularly in the TikTok era.