South African Preacher Urges Patience After Rapture Prediction Fails
Johannesburg, South Africa – September 27, 2025
A viral prophecy by Pastor Joshua Mhlakela predicting the Rapture for September 23-24, 2025, has ended with disappointment after the dates passed without incident. The pastor has since asked his followers to remain patient, assuring them that “the Lord is on His way.”
Pastor Joshua Mhlakela claimed Jesus appeared to him in visions and revealed that the Rapture, a Christian belief where believers are taken up into heaven, would occur during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets (also known as Rosh Hashanah), specifically on September 23 and 24, 2025.
The prediction spread rapidly online, especially on TikTok, where hashtags related to “RaptureTok” trended. Some followers reportedly made major life decisions in preparation, including quitting jobs or selling possessions.
When September 23-24 passed without any sign of the predicted event, Mhlakela conducted a livestream during which he urged followers to be patient, saying “the Lord is on His way.” At about 12:17 a.m. on September 24, he reiterated that followers should “keep waiting” because “one of these two days, He is coming.” The livestream has since been deleted, and Mhlakela has remained largely silent online.
Several religious influencers who had supported or amplified Mhlakela’s claims have since publicly apologized. Among them are Tilahun Desalegn, an Australian evangelist, said he would “never publicly talk about the Rapture again,” and Kingsalem Igwe, a Nigerian preacher, wrote that he only believed someone who claimed Jesus had spoken to him.
Critics pointed to Biblical passages warning against trying to predict the date of Christ’s return. Verses such as Matthew 24:36, which states “no one knows about that day or hour,” have been cited. Faith leaders stressed that setting dates for events like the Rapture goes against widely held Christian doctrine.
The incident underscores the risks of predictive prophecy, including the loss of credibility when high-profile predictions fail. It can have a profound emotional impact on followers, especially those who act on such forecasts in ways that carry lasting financial, social, or psychological consequences. The resulting disappointment can be severe.
Many Christian traditions also highlight doctrinal concerns, warning against setting dates for apocalyptic or end-time events and emphasizing that Scripture does not permit such predictions.
