Pastor's Sept 23-24 rapture claim goes viral on TikTok

A South African pastor's claim that he saw Jesus announce the return of Christ on September 23 and 24 has sparked a viral wave of preparation, prayer and parody across social media, with some believers selling possessions and quitting jobs while others joke about whether pets will be taken into heaven. Pastor Joshua Mhlakela made the remarks in interviews that were shared online, saying in one clip, "The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not," and describing a vision in which "I saw Jesus sitting on his throne" and heard him say, "I am coming soon."

Mhlakela told viewers the return would coincide with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins at sundown on September 22 this year and spans two days. He said the event could fall on either the 23rd or 24th, language that has been repeated and amplified across platforms and given rise to the hashtag RaptureTok on TikTok. Clips of his interview circulated in September after earlier uploads of the conversation appeared online, fueling the surge in attention.

Reactions on social media have ranged from earnest preparations to satire. Some users posted that they had sold cars, given away money or quit jobs in...