Someone in South Africa got a lot of attention this week by predicting that the Rapture would happen on Tuesday.
According to the New York Times:
The date of Sept. 23, 2025, appears to have originated from Joshua Mhlakela of South Africa. Though news reports have widely described him as a pastor, he said in a YouTube video from June: “I’m just a simple person, no title. I’m not an apostle, I’m not a pastor, I’m not a bishop. I’m just a believer.”
In the video, he says that Jesus came to him in a dream in 2018 and told him, “On the 23rd and the 24th of September, 2025, I will come to take my church.”
I don’t believe that the scripture teaches a Left Behind style Rapture event, where Christians are scooped up and taken away for awhile while the Anti-Christ brings about hell on earth. That idea seems to have taken root in some evangelical circles mostly because of popular fictional novels and movies.
I do believe that there will come a day certain when Jesus Christ will return to gather his people and set things right – but we can be sure that day will not be on a date predicted by someone in South Africa, or anywhere else, because:
Matthew 24:36 – But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only .(KJV)
Child of God, husband, father, grandfather, rabblerouser, songwriter, pot stirrer, waiting for the King.