Viral Doomsday Prediction Says World Is Going To End Today. What’s Behind The Trend

Joshua Mhlakela, a South African man, has gained online attention for claiming that God revealed to him the dates of the Rapture, which he states will take place on January 23 and 24, 2025. This assertion has sparked discussions on social media, particularly on TikTok, where the hashtag #RaptureTok is trending. Scholars and commentators within the Christian community are analyzing the implications of such predictions related to Rapture beliefs.

The Rapture is understood by many evangelical Christians as a future event in which Jesus will return and take his true followers to heaven prior to the end of the world. Although the term “Rapture” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, related passages are often cited to support the belief, including those found in Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, and Matthew 24.

Amy Frykholm, author of “Rapture Culture: Left Behind in Evangelical America,” notes that beliefs surrounding the Rapture began gaining traction in the mid-19th century in Britain and North America. She emphasizes the narrative in which the individuals “taken up” during the Rapture are unexpected, while some deemed good Christians are left behind.

This is not the first time Rapture predictions have been made, with notable past instances including Harold Camping’s assertion in 2011 and the predictions of a Korean group in 1992. A significant prediction occurred in the 19th century by William Miller, who forecasted the Rapture between 1843 and 1844. The failure of this prediction, known as the Great Disappointment, resulted in the formation of various sects, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church.