The rapture is right here — that’s, in keeping with worshippers on TikTok. Persons are satisfied that the top of days will happen between right now, Sept. 23, and tomorrow, Sept. 24 — and have determined to organize accordingly. The phenomenon stems from the evangelical Christian perception that Jesus Christ will return to Earth and ascend to heaven with solely his truest believers, leaving the unsaved behind to endure God’s judgment for seven years.
The Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 dates are courtesy of South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed in a YouTube video from earlier this yr that Jesus Christ advised him that’s when the world is ending. Whereas predictions of the world ending are something however new, Christians on TikTok, who’ve come throughout Mhlakela’s sermon, appear to wholeheartedly imagine him.
What precisely is ‘RaptureTok’?
It’s a nook of TikTok the place customers are posting movies of themselves both discussing or making ready for the top of the world. Christians on TikTok staunchly imagine that chaos will erupt on Earth after they’re swept up within the clouds with Jesus Christ. Leaving Earth, in keeping with Christians on TikTok, is an excellent event and a fantastic honor.
One girl on RaptureTok mentioned, in what she declared her remaining video, “I really feel prefer it’s time for me to step away from TikTok. I really feel like my story is over. I’ve been so blessed by this, and the Lord has achieved a lot, and I’m so grateful to have been his vessel.”
How did speak of the rapture begin on TikTok?
Briefly, Mhlakela is answerable for RaptureTok. In a video posted on the YouTube channel Centtwinz TV in June, the pastor claimed to have acquired a prophecy immediately from Jesus Christ, telling him that the world will finish on both Sept. 23 or 24.
The video, which has garnered greater than 570,000 views on YouTube, finally made its rounds on TikTok, the place it spawned a neighborhood of Christians who’re in settlement with Mhlakela. In the course of the hour-long sermon, Mhlakela detailed the message he “personally acquired from Jesus” in addition to how this impacts the 2026 World Cup.
“He says to me, ‘On the twenty third and the twenty fourth of September, 2025, I’ll come to take my church,’” Mhlakela recalled. “The world is gearing up towards the World Cup, proper? However by June, they suppose the World Cup will occur. However after the rapture of September 2025, the chaos that may be on the planet, the destruction, the devastation that might be on the planet after … there might be no World Cup 2026.”
How are folks reacting?
Those that imagine the rapture is definitely occurring have shared a collection of movies detailing the methods they’ve been making ready for the event. A lady named Christina on TikTok is urging fellow believers to unlock their telephones and to “take away your passcode,” with the intention of being “extra daring about your religion” and spreading information of the rapture.
“Unlock your cellphone,” she mentioned. “I’ve additionally been downloading movies that I feel could be very useful for folks to elucidate God’s Phrase and clarify what is going on and what’s going on. … Proceed to hope for the those who haven’t but given their life to Jesus.”
One other TikTok consumer named Hannah shared how shedding her “dream job” confirmed that the rapture is going on in September. She had beforehand requested that God let her keep house together with her household when the world ends — and that he delivered on this request by getting her fired.
“The confirmations that God has given me appear to be pointing to subsequent week,” she mentioned concerning the rapture occurring. “I prayed and I requested God, ‘Every time the rapture occurs, whether or not it’s subsequent week, subsequent month, subsequent yr, are you able to please simply organize issues the place I may be house with my household when it occurs?’”
Tilahun, a self-described “prophet and evangelist to the nations” on TikTok, has shared a collection of rapture-related movies prior to now few days. On Monday, he urged his followers to not doubt or fear concerning the finish of days. The Feast of Trumpets, the supposed sound of a trumpet that’s related to the Rapture, in keeping with Tilahun, is simply 15 hours away.
“Our blessed hope is coming. We’re going house. Guys, it’s going to occur. Consider, don’t doubt. Religion is main this hour. I don’t care what number of mocking or scoffing movies you come throughout in your [For You Page on TikTok], it’s going to occur. Consider it,” he mentioned.
TikTok is split on whether or not the rapture is going on
Whereas there are a number of movies of evangelical Christians preaching concerning the finish of days, there look like simply as many from individuals who don’t imagine the world is ending.
Arabella, a fashion-focused TikTok creator, shared a satirical video wherein she voices concern over the “demonic clothes collections” individuals are holding on to — and urges that they go away their designer objects outdoors by midnight.
“You’ll not be stepping into heaven in case you are nonetheless in possession of a fall-winter 1996 Alexander McQueen piece,” she mentioned. “These items are demonic. You have to let go now. Depart them outdoors, like Jesus would.”
Jenna, one other content material creator, shared her “guidelines for the rapture” on TikTok. Included in her guidelines is sporting “a denim miniskirt with built-in shorts beneath” for when she ascends. She additionally vows to not rely energy, since she’ll be given her dream physique in heaven anyway.
“I’m going to be livestreaming whereas I ascend, and I’ll even be making movies and posting about what heaven is like and stuff like that after I stand up there. So should you’re going to be left behind,” she added, “be certain that to comply with now so you will get updates.”
