South African pastor's failed Rapture prediction sparks backlash and apologies

A South African pastor who predicted the Rapture would occur on Sept. 23-24, 2025 faced swift backlash as the day passed without event. Joshua Mhlakela had drawn viral attention by claiming Jesus appeared to him in a vision and that the Second Coming would happen during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets.

During a livestream that has since been deleted, Mhlakela described how the Lord would return with a host of angels and urged followers to remain patient as the hours ticked by. As the date moved from Sept. 23 to Sept. 24, he continued to press for belief, even as the night ended with no sign of a rapture. By about 12:17 a.m., the broadcast concluded, and the pastor signaled that the wait would continue the next day.

Faith leaders and popular Christian influencers swiftly apologized for amplifying the prediction amid a furious backlash online. The incident sparked a wider reckoning on social media about the danger of predicting the exact time of the Rapture.

Tilahun Desalegn, an Australian TikTok creator with more than 30,000 followers, shared videos of his car being towed away, saying he would go home to heaven and would no longer need his belongings. He later posted an apology stating that he would not publicly discuss the rapture again and that he regretted sharing the prediction.

Another Nigerian-based prophet, Kingsalem Igwe, apologized after saying he believed the Second Coming would occur following Mhlakela's message. He acknowledged the miscalculation and urged followers to remain grounded in faith rather than fixed dates.

Critics argued that attempting to date the Rapture contradicts biblical teaching. Vladimir Savchuk, a pastor and author, said anyone who sets a date opposes Jesus's teaching, and many cited 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which emphasizes that the Antichrist must be revealed before Christ returns.

Religious watchers emphasized that Rapture predictions have historically caused financial losses and emotional distress for believers who liquidate possessions or abandon daily responsibilities. The episode has prompted renewed calls for accountability among leaders who influence large online audiences and underscored the challenge of moderating end-time forecasts in the age of social media.

Overall, observers say the episode highlights ongoing scrutiny of how end-times predictions spread online and the need for discernment within faith communities as they navigate quickly shared, highly emotive content.