Topics: World News, News
A conspiracy theory claims that the world is going to end on Tuesday, 23 September 2025.
The belief has particularly built up speed on social media, especially TikTok, where some users can be seen preparing for the 'Rapture', which is a Christian belief that claims at the Second Coming, living and dead believers will rise into the air and meet Jesus.
Some users who believe in the Rapture have been taking it very seriously, giving advice to others on how to prepare, leaving their belongings in safe places to be found and even selling items beforehand.
So what do believers actually think will happen during the Rapture, and where did this begin?
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Let's get into it.
In Thessalonians 4:13-17, the Rapture is explained. It states: "For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association UK, many believe the Second Coming happens in two phases
They explain that the rapture 'will be secret, for it will be unknown to the world of unbelievers at the time of its happening'.
"Then, second, after a period of seven years of tribulation on earth, Christ will return to the earth with His church, the saints who were raptured. He will be victorious over His enemies and will reign on the earth for a thousand years (the millennium) with His saints, the church."
Meanwhile, Brittanica adds: "The belief in the Rapture emerged from the anticipation that Jesus would return to redeem all members of the church."
The belief that the Rapture could take place this week seems to have stemmed from Pastor Joshua Mhlakela who told CENTTWINZ TV on YouTube: "The rapture is here upon us, whether you are ready or not ready.
“I saw Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, ‘I am coming soon'.
“He said to me on the 23rd and 24th of September 2025, ‘I will come back to the Earth.’”
The pastor prophesied that the day the world ends will coincide with Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets.
This is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the beginning of the Jewish new year - and for Christians, it's a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ's return.
Mhlakela said that God’s judgement would leave the world ‘unrecognisable’ and the rapture would happen with ‘such power’ that it would cause the Earth to ‘shake’.
On TikTok, one woman recorded her 'last video' two days ago, explaining that if the Rapture didn't happen, she would come back online and 'apologise'.
Meanwhile, another urged people to 'unlock their phones' or leave a note with their passcodes, so that if the Rapture does take place, their content can be accessed.
