The rapture is here — that is, according to worshippers on TikTok. People are convinced that the end of days will take place between today, Sept. 23, and tomorrow, Sept. 24 — and have decided to prepare accordingly. The phenomenon stems from the evangelical Christian belief that Jesus Christ will return to Earth and ascend to heaven with only his truest believers, leaving the unsaved behind to endure God’s judgment for seven years.
The Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 dates are courtesy of South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed in a YouTube video from earlier this year that Jesus Christ told him that is when the world is ending. While predictions of the world ending are anything but new, Christians on TikTok, who’ve come across Mhlakela’s sermon, seem to wholeheartedly believe him.
What exactly is ‘RaptureTok’?
It’s a corner of TikTok where users are posting videos of themselves either discussing or preparing for the end of the world. Christians on TikTok staunchly believe that chaos will erupt on Earth when they’re swept up in the clouds with Jesus Christ. Leaving Earth, according to Christians on TikTok, is a glorious occasion and a great honor.
One woman on RaptureTok said, in what she declared her final video, “I feel like it’s time for me to step away from TikTok. I feel like my story is over. I have been so blessed by this, and the Lord has done so much, and I am so grateful to have been his vessel.”
How did talk of the rapture start on TikTok?
In short, Mhlakela is responsible for RaptureTok. In a video posted on the YouTube channel Centtwinz TV in June, the pastor claimed to have received a prophecy directly from Jesus Christ, telling him that the world will end on either Sept. 23 or 24.
The video, which has garnered more than 570,000 views on YouTube, eventually made its rounds on TikTok, where it spawned a community of Christians who are in agreement with Mhlakela. During the hour-long sermon, Mhlakela detailed the message he “personally received from Jesus” as well as how this affects the 2026 World Cup.
“He says to me, ‘On the 23rd and the 24th of September, 2025, I will come to take my church,’” Mhlakela recalled. “The world is gearing up toward the World Cup, right? But by June, they think the World Cup will happen. But after the rapture of September 2025, the chaos that would be in the world, the destruction, the devastation that will be in the world after … there will be no World Cup 2026.”
How are people reacting?
Those who believe the rapture is actually happening have shared a series of videos detailing the ways they’ve been preparing for the occasion. A woman named Christina on TikTok is urging fellow believers to unlock their phones and to “remove your passcode,” with the intention of being “more bold about your faith” and spreading news of the rapture.
“Unlock your phone,” she said. “I’ve also been downloading videos that I think would be very helpful for people to explain God’s Word and explain what is happening and what is going on. … Continue to pray for the people that have not yet given their life to Jesus.”
Another TikTok user named Hannah shared how losing her “dream job” confirmed that the rapture is happening in September. She had previously asked that God let her stay home with her family when the world ends — and that he delivered on this request by getting her fired.
“The confirmations that God has given me seem to be pointing to next week,” she said about the rapture occurring. “I prayed and I asked God, ‘Whenever the rapture happens, whether it is next week, next month, next year, can you please just arrange things where I can be home with my family when it happens?’”
Tilahun, a self-described “prophet and evangelist to the nations” on TikTok, has shared a series of rapture-related videos in the past few days. On Monday, he urged his followers not to doubt or worry about the end of days. The Feast of Trumpets, the supposed sound of a trumpet that’s associated with the Rapture, according to Tilahun, is just 15 hours away.
“Our blessed hope is coming. We are going home. Guys, it’s going to happen. Believe, do not doubt. Faith is leading this hour. I don’t care how many mocking or scoffing videos you come across on your [For You Page on TikTok], it’s going to happen. Believe it,” he said.
TikTok is divided on whether the rapture is happening
While there are several videos of evangelical Christians preaching about the end of days, there appear to be just as many from people who do not believe the world is ending.
Arabella, a fashion-focused TikTok creator, shared a satirical video in which she voices concern over the “demonic clothing collections” people are holding on to — and urges that they leave their designer items outside by midnight.
“You will not be getting into heaven if you are still in ownership of a fall-winter 1996 Alexander McQueen piece,” she said. “These pieces are demonic. You need to let go now. Leave them outside, like Jesus would.”
Jenna, another content creator, shared her “rules for the rapture” on TikTok. Included in her checklist is wearing “a denim miniskirt with built-in shorts underneath” for when she ascends. She also vows to no longer count calories, since she’ll be given her dream body in heaven anyway.
“I’m going to be livestreaming while I ascend, and I’ll also be making videos and posting about what heaven is like and stuff like that once I get up there. So if you’re going to be left behind,” she added, “make sure to follow now so you can get updates.”
