RaptureTok fuels doomsday frenzy as Sept. 23 date trends online; therapist explains psychology and coping

Believers around the world woke up Friday to a social media-fueled push that the Rapture—an apocalyptic event described in Revelation—would happen today. The trend, dubbed RaptureTok, has surged in recent weeks as faith leaders and TikTok creators pinned Sept. 23 as the date that would trigger a sequence ending in Jesus' Second Coming and Judgment Day for non-believers.

While various scenarios have circulated, many adherents expect to be taken up into Heaven, leaving others to face the Great Tribulation and a period of suffering. The Bible does not assign a date to the Rapture, and Christians have historically been discouraged from predicting one. Still, videos and sermons have clocked up millions of views as signs are cited, including alignment with the Jewish Feast of Trumpets and certain star configurations seen as fulfilling biblical prophecy.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, UKCP-accredited psychotherapist and trauma specialist Tina Chummun said that doomsday frenzies often spike during times of uncertainty because the human brain seeks patterns and certainty when life feels unpredictable. "People often get caught up in these belief systems during times of uncertainty because our brain is wired to seek patterns and certainty when life feels uncertain and unpredictable." Neuroscience shows us that heightened stress and uncertainty increase our amygdala reactivity, making us more susceptible to black-and-white narratives that promise safety, salvation or control. "Doomsday theories thrive on this neurobiological drive and this will test us to the core with our beliefs within ourselves and our social influences." Ms Chummun added that during times of great uncertainty—which we have seen played out over the past few years in the form of freak weather incidents, wars, and global political instability—people often cling to anything, or anyone, who can offer a sense of safety and stability. It can also come about during any sort of societal shift, and she uses the Millennium Bug as a prime example. "In the late 1990s, there were a lot of rumours and theories when all the computer clocks ticked into the new year, the new millennium, in 2000 there would be a huge meltdown and all technology would fail," she said. "People were expecting planes to suddenly fall out of the sky and their appliances to blow up or stop working. "When people want reassurance about the unknown, they piggyback on other people who seem to know what's happening—even though they haven't stopped to question whether what they're aligning with is right."

Unlike three decades ago, there are now more ways than ever to be exposed to terrifying doomsday trends and the people who claim they have the answers and escape routes thanks to social media. The Rapture is a Biblical event which is described in the last book of the Bible, Revelations. On TikTok where the majority of the Rapture-inspired content is posted, some videos have received tens of thousands of views. These include one where a man repeatedly says 'Jesus is coming' next to the caption 'these are the last days'. It has been watched more than 488,000 times. If the Rapture doesn't play out as expected today, and you or someone you love is left disappointed, Ms Chummun offered some useful advice to navigate any uncomfortable feelings. "When a prophecy doesn’t happen, people can experience profound emotional fallout, grief, shame, even identity crises," she said. "The psychological need that drove that belief remains. Coping requires gentle processing of disillusionment, re-grounding in supportive relationships, and often re-establishing meaning outside of rigid belief systems. "It's important to make an effort to find peace and fulfilment in your everyday life, and ask yourself why you were so desperate to be removed from the Earth in the first place."

The online environment has amplified these narratives, making it easier for unexpected doomsday promises to gain traction. While some followers treat Sept. 23 as a turning point in biblical prophecy, others consume the content for entertainment or confront the anxiety that uncertainty can provoke in a fast-moving information ecosystem. Experts caution that the point of such theories is rarely to build lasting community so much as to offer quick reassurance in unstable times.

For those who find themselves grappling with disappointment if the day passes without event, Chummun urges a practical, human-centered approach: seek trusted relationships, ground routines, and reorient personal meaning away from a binary salvation narrative. The goal, she says, is not to dismiss belief but to prevent entrenchment in a pattern that can fray when expectations fail. "Coping requires gentle processing of disillusionment, re-grounding in supportive relationships, and often re-establishing meaning outside of rigid belief systems," she added. "Find peace and fulfilment in your daily life, and ask yourself why you were so desperate to be removed from the Earth in the first place."

As the Sept. 23 window closes, psychologists and faith leaders emphasize critical thinking, open dialogue, and sustaining personal networks to weather the emotional fallout that can accompany sudden shifts in belief. The broader takeaway, they suggest, is to separate spiritual exploration from definitive forecasts and to prioritize resilient coping strategies that endure beyond any single prophecy.