By skyforbes 
And Frightened Millions
It all started with a pastor and quickly became a global internet phenomenon.
South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela told Centtwinz TV he had a vision: Jesus would return on September 23–24 and “take” believers — the classic idea known as the rapture.
The clip went viral, and overnight TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms filled with warnings, survival tips, jokes, and — worryingly — real-life decisions: quitting jobs, selling belongings, writing goodbye notes.
When I say “rapture,” I mean the popular image of believers being taken into the clouds without physical death, just as Jesus ascended to heaven. The word “rapture” isn’t in every Bible translation, but the idea — that believers will meet the Lord in the air before terrifying times for those left behind — has shaped evangelical imagination for decades.
People are right to pay attention — not because prophecies are suddenly more likely, but because viral scares ripple through communities. As Al Jazeera notes, a pastor’s viral message seeded thousands of TikTok posts, from repent-now pleas to step-by-step “rapture” checklists.
Astrology fans joined in, citing Mercury retrograde, blood moons, and calendar coincidences…