South African pastor **Joshua Mhlakela** has shocked believers and skeptics alike by claiming that Jesus Christ will return to Earth on **September 23-24, 2025**, and that those days will mark the beginning of massive chaos and destruction. His vision, shared in a viral YouTube video, says the Rapture will follow immediately, leaving non-believers behind to face judgment. The Economic Times reports that his prophecy ties together biblical signs, Jewish feast days, and recent global turmoil.
Mhlakela says Jesus appeared to him in a vision, speaking “very loud and clear” that the Rapture would begin on those dates. He claims that the Feast of Trumpets (also known as Rosh Hashanah), a significant Jewish holiday, aligns with that window — something many end-times watchers see as a prophetic signal. Sky News covered how the pastor insists that the vision is not symbolic, but a precise warning.
“The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not.”— @SomeFaithWatcher
In his video interview, Mhlakela said that after these dates, the world would experience widespread destruction. He warned of disasters, societal breakdown, and moral collapse for those left behind. Among the more dramatic claims: “There will be no World Cup 2026,” he said, linking his prophecy to a vision of global disruption. UNILAD noted that these claims are intended to spur urgency among believers.
Faith leaders and theologians are pushing back. Many remind followers that the Bible explicitly says no one knows “the day or the hour” of Jesus’ return, a warning from Matthew 24:36. Critics are calling Mhlakela’s prediction another in a long line of failed date-setting prophecies. LADbible reports that some who follow Mhlakela are urging caution, insisting that spiritual readiness matters more than trying to pin down a calendar date.
“Date-setting always looks prophetic until the day passes.”— @SkepticalClergy
Social media has lit up since the prophecy spread. Hashtags like #September23, #Rapture2025, #FeastOfTrumpets and #Prepare have trended across X, TikTok, and Instagram. Some users say they’ve already made emergency plans or stocked supplies. Others denounce the prophecy as fear-mongering. Yahoo News Singapore covered how reactions span devotion and skepticism practically in equal measure.
Mhlakela didn’t stop at just predicting the date: he urged his listeners to repent, to turn back to prayer, and to live lives of moral purity in anticipation of what he calls “the storm.” He said that after the Rapture, the Earth will endure a seven-year tribulation, a time of “chaos, destruction, devastation” for those not protected by faith. UNILAD points out that this vision is echoing classic end-times interpretations, and many of his listeners see disaster in recent natural calamities, wars, and political unrest as signs this prophecy could be coming true.
“If you aren’t ready, the days ahead will be dark.”— @EndTimesWatcher
Despite the alarm, many mainstream Christian denominations caution against accepting date claims. They argue that the Biblical mandate is to stay vigilant always, without presuming to know divinely concealed timing. Others point out that similar prophecies in history have passed without incident. Still, the intensity of the conversation now is undeniable—believers and non-believers alike are looking at this prophecy, some with hope, some with dread.
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