The false prediction of the rapture occurring on September 23, 2025 was tragically popularized by more-than-a-few evangelical Christians who acted foolishly (watch the sad video at the bottom). A South African pastor’s apocalyptic prophecy sparked widespread panic and ridicule across social media, as many Christians braced for the Rapture to take place Sep 23, 2025. The viral claim by Joshua Mhlakela, who says Jesus personally revealed the date of his return in a divine vision, led some followers to sell possessions and prepare for what they believe is the end of days.

Now, after Sep 23rd came and went with no rapture, many are claiming that Sep 23rd was the wrong date because of the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendar, and that the rapture will now happen on one of these coming days: Oct 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th. “Jesus doesn’t know we changed our calendar. That’s why it didn’t happen on September 23 . . . Believers claim that moving from the older Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar centuries ago led to miscalculations of prophecy. They argue that returning to the Julian system makes biblical timelines.”

This nonsense is a blight on the church that is unfortunately being fueled by some pre-trib Christians who should know better (Matthew 24:35-37).

(While I recognize and respect that many good Christians affirm a pre-tribulation perspective, I’m putting my money on the early church who were unanimous in their affirmation that the church is destined to suffer persecution under the Antichrist at the end. I believe the pre-wrath position is the best understanding. The pre-wrath rapture is a belief that the rapture of Christians will occur during the tribulation period, specifically after the Antichrist is revealed and begins his persecution of the church, and before God’s final wrath is unleashed. This view suggests that believers will experience the wrath of the Antichrist, but not the wrath of God and will be taken up to meet Christ before the worst of the tribulation occurs, distinguishing it from other rapture theories like pre-tribulationism and post-tribulationism.)