The Rapture is near, at least according to an apocalyptic prophecy by a South African man who claims it will happen on Sept. 23 or 24.

His prediction has gone viral, with some treating it as a sign of the end times and many others mocking it across social media.

“There are millions and millions of Christians in the world today, maybe even hundreds of millions, who believe in modern prophecy and consume media populated by these prophecies,” said Matthew Taylor, a senior scholar in Christianity at the Institute for Islamic-Christian-Jewish Studies.

Here’s a look at the theological concept of the Rapture and its place in history:

Things to Know About the Rapture

The Rapture is the belief among some evangelical Christians that Jesus will return to Earth to take true believers to heaven before a period of great tribulation leading to the end of the world.

“Everyone else remains on earth for a tumultuous and troubled period,” said Amy Frykholm, author of Rapture Culture: Left Behind in Evangelical America.

In these accounts, she added, those “taken up” are often a surprise, while others assumed to be devout Christians are left behind.

The Second Coming of Jesus is referenced in the Old Testament’s Book of Daniel and the New Testament’s Book of Revelation, said Randall Balmer, a professor of religion at Dartmouth College. Early Christians, persecuted under the Roman Empire, saw Revelation as assurance that God would ultimately triumph over evil.

What the Bible Says and Doesn’t Say

The word “rapture” itself never appears in the Bible.

Supporters often cite passages from 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, and Matthew 24 to defend the belief.

The Rapture doctrine emerged in the mid-19th century in Britain and spread across the English-speaking world, Frykholm said. It added a sense of secret exclusivity to the already accepted belief in the Second Coming.

The teaching gained traction in the 20th century through Bible conferences, evangelical media, and the Scofield Reference Bible, which detailed the Rapture in its footnotes. Pop culture further fueled interest, from the evangelical horror film A Thief in the Night to the best-selling Left Behind novel series.

The Latest Prediction

Joshua Mhlakela, a South African who describes himself as “only a believer,” posted a widely viewed YouTube video three months ago claiming God revealed the future to him.

In the video, Mhlakela said he saw Jesus on a throne who told him: “On the 23rd and the 24th, 2025, I will come to take my Church.”

The prophecy has sparked debate among Christian commentators and spread widely on TikTok under the hashtag #RaptureTok, where many users ridiculed it as another false claim.

Some noted the dates overlap with Judaism’s High Holy Days, which began this year on Sept. 22 with Rosh Hashana. Others linked the timing to current global turmoil, including wars in Gaza and Ukraine and the recent killing of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“Ideas about the Rapture are best understood within the larger framework of apocalypticism, an ancient Jewish worldview that predates Christianity,” said Kim Haines-Eitzen, a professor of ancient Mediterranean religions at Cornell University.

Apocalyptic beliefs often surge during times of crisis, she said, noting that many early Christians thought the end would come in their lifetimes. “Their writings are now used by contemporary Christians who share Mhlakela’s view that the Rapture is imminent, perhaps even today.”

Past Predictions

Failed doomsday predictions are nothing new.

California preacher Harold Camping famously said the Rapture would occur on May 21, 2011, spending millions to promote his message. When it did not happen, he abandoned public prophecy.

In the 19th century, US farmer and Bible interpreter William Miller predicted Jesus would return between 1843 and 1844. Followers gathered in anticipation, only to face bitter disappointment. Miller reset the date to Oct. 22, 1844, which also passed without event, a moment remembered as the Great Disappointment.

The fallout eventually gave rise to new religious movements, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and strands of evangelicalism that embraced secret Rapture teachings.

More recently, a Korean evangelical group, the Mission for the Coming Days, wrongly predicted Christ’s return for Oct. 28, 1992.

Modern-day prophets often explain failed predictions as spiritual battles, blaming humanity for not cooperating with God’s will, Taylor said.

“Historically, failed predictors have a lot of egg on their face,” he added.