This renewed interest was largely sparked by a South African preacher, Pastor Joshua Mhlakela, who boldly announced that he knew the rapture would occur on either 23rd or 24th September, 2025. How he arrived at this prediction, while the rest of the Christian world remained unaware, is unclear. However, it is clear that such predictions are unbiblical and tend to hinder the cause of the gospel.
Sadly, some individuals act on predictions of this kind. For example, based on a previous unfounded prophecy, Sherri Shepherd decided not to pay her taxes and gave away her belongings, believing that they would no longer be necessary after the rapture. When the predicted dates passed without incident, she, like many others, experienced disappointment. The problem here is not merely a mistaken date; it is that the Bible gives no one the authority to know the exact timing of the Lord’s return.
Jesus explicitly warns, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36 NIV). Therefore, Pastor Mhlakela’s claim that God had confirmed the date to him overrides Scripture. But God cannot contradict Himself so any message from Him must align with Scripture. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse” (Galatians 1:8 NIV).
False predictions are not new. For over 2,000 years, individuals have claimed to know the timing of Christ’s return, leading numerous people astray. Jesus warned that many would “come in [His] name”, claiming to be the Messiah, and would “deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). These repeated patterns demonstrate the dangers of placing trust in human speculation rather than God’s Word.
Social media amplifies this problem. Platforms like TikTok allow misinformation to spread rapidly, creating the illusion of authority and credibility. Other well-known media outlets, such as the BBC, have attempted to explain the rapture, avoiding sensationalism and providing a largely accurate overview. While this is helpful, it cannot replace Scripture as the primary source of understanding. Christians and those seeking the truth must base their understanding on what the Bible says, not on trends, viral posts, or AI overviews.
The hallmark of biblical prophecy is reliability. Unlike vague, speculative predictions, Scripture contains prophecies that have been fulfilled with extraordinary precision. Daniel predicted the rise and fall of empires hundreds of years in advance (Daniel 2), and more than 300 prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in the life of Jesus (e.g., Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2). Biblical prophecy is not a vague horoscope; it is confirmed truth.
Paul addressed confusion about the Lord’s return in his letters to the Thessalonians. Some believers mistakenly thought they had missed the return of Christ. Paul reassured them:
“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 ESV).
False prophecy can have devastating effects. In biblical times, making false claims about God carried the consequence of death (Deuteronomy 18:20). This underscores the seriousness of prophetic responsibility. Misleading others about Christ’s return is no light matter.
As we reflect on the recent hype surrounding the rapture, a key lesson emerges: Christians are called to live with readiness and expectation, but not with date-setting or world-event speculation. Guidance is not provided by social media trends, but by Scripture. The recent events, though disappointing to some, offer an opportunity for believers to deepen their understanding of biblical prophecy and the certainty of God’s Word.
Misunderstandings about the rapture have a long history in the Church. Early believers were also troubled by false teaching. Some claimed they would never experience death because Christ’s return was imminent (John 21:23). Paul, in his letters to the Thessalonians, clarified that those who are alive when Christ returns will be gathered together with the resurrected saints:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV).
The rapture is meant to be a source of hope and encouragement (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11), not anxiety or speculation. Early Christians were instructed to live in anticipation, using the assurance of Christ’s return to strengthen their faith. Scripture outlines a sequence of events surrounding the end times, providing a biblical framework for understanding prophecy:
- The Rapture – Christians, both living and dead, are caught up to meet the Lord, and subsequently experience the judgement seat of Christ and the marriage supper of the Lamb (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 19:7-9).
- The Tribulation – The Antichrist signs a covenant with Israel, initiating the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:27).
- Mid-Tribulation Persecution – After 3½ years, the Antichrist breaks the covenant and persecutes Israel (Daniel 9:27).
- Armageddon – Nations gather against Israel, but God intervenes to deliver His people (Revelation 16:16; 19:11-21).
- The Second Coming – In contrast with the rapture, Christ returns visibly to Earth, defeats His enemies, and rescues Israel (Zechariah 14:4-5; Revelation 19:11-21).
- Millennial Reign – Jesus reigns from Jerusalem for 1,000 years, establishing worldwide peace and righteousness (Revelation 20:4-6).
- Final Rebellion and Satan’s Defeat – Satan is briefly released and deceives the nations but is ultimately cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).
- New Heaven and New Earth – God establishes an eternal kingdom, a renewed creation free from sin and suffering (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4).
- The Great White Throne Judgement – People stand before God to receive the final judgement (Revelation 20:11-15).
It is important to acknowledge that students of the Bible may interpret the exact timing of future events in different ways, though there is broad agreement on the main points. In this short series of articles on future events, our aim is to provide a biblical exposition of the key passages concerning prophecies yet to be fulfilled, equipping readers to form their own conclusions about the reliability of these interpretations.
Christians, though, can say with John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
