Evangelical Christians across social media are warning that the end times could arrive this week, with some predicting the rapture may occur on September 23 or 24, 2025.
The current wave of warnings has been fueled by a South African pastor’s YouTube video, which set off a flurry of TikTok posts. For many believers, global conflicts, such as Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, are seen as signs that biblical prophecy is unfolding.
What is the rapture?
The word “rapture” does not appear in the Bible, but the idea has deep roots in some Evangelical traditions. According to rapture theology, true Christians will suddenly rise into the clouds “to meet the Lord in the air,” while non-believers will be left behind. Those left on Earth are believed to face a period of intense trials, disasters, and plagues leading up to the eventual return of Jesus Christ.
Bible scholar Bart Ehrman, author of Armageddon: What the Bible Really Says about the End, notes that not all Christians share this belief. Still, for those who do, the rapture represents a moment of salvation and separation from worldly suffering.
TikTok and viral rapture warnings
On TikTok, videos tagged with rapture-related themes have drawn millions of views. One account with over 848,000 followers posted a tearful plea: “You need to repent. Now. I don’t want you to be left behind.” The woman in the video described a dream where she tried to warn people about Jesus’s return, but no one would listen.
Another account, Christianquotes89, features two men explaining what non-believers should do after the rapture. They claim that Christians will be taken to heaven, and return with Christ seven years later.
While predictions of the rapture have surfaced many times before, this latest wave shows how digital platforms continue to amplify apocalyptic beliefs especially during turbulent global events.
