Additional Coverage:
- Preacher who predicted the ‘rapture’ breaks silence after it didn’t happen yesterday (irishstar.com)
A South African preacher’s prediction of the “rapture” occurring this week prompted a flurry of activity online, with some believers taking drastic steps to prepare for their ascension to heaven. The preacher, Joshua Mhlakela, livestreamed his anticipation on what he believed would be his last day on Earth. However, the predicted dates of September 23rd and 24th passed without incident.
Mhlakela, who claimed to have received the rapture date in a dream, initially remained “hopeful” as the 23rd drew to a close. Even after the anticipated event failed to materialize, he continued to assert that the “Lord is coming” and that God was “on his way with a host of angels.”
Mhlakela’s pronouncements spread rapidly across social media platforms, particularly TikTok, fueling a wave of unusual behavior. Some users shared advice on how to prepare for the rapture, including wardrobe recommendations and the importance of being outdoors.
One woman even claimed her daughter had begun speaking Hebrew as a sign of the impending event. Others reported selling possessions, giving away pets, and even leaving instructions for those left behind on how to join them in heaven.
While the predicted rapture failed to occur, the incident highlights the potential dangers of such beliefs. Concerns have been raised about the potential for harmful actions, including reports of individuals euthanizing their pets based on the belief that animals would not be included in the rapture. Critics have labeled the phenomenon a form of collective religious psychosis, emphasizing the risks associated with such extreme convictions.