#rapturetok and Religious Psychosis

Maaryah Rashid, Co-Deputy Editor, BA Politics and International Relations

What would you do, if you knew the exact date of your last day on earth? According to South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela, the final day for believers would fall on either September 23rd or 24th, 2025, an event described as the rapture. Mhlakela claimed this prophecy came from a vision given to him by Jesus. The prediction quickly went viral across social media, especially TikTok, where many users, particularly those of the Evangelical faith, shared their excitement about being taken from Earth to reunite with Jesus on those dates.

A month has now passed, and the rapture has still not occurred. 

The word ‘rapture’ comes from Latin, meaning ‘caught up’. While the term itself does not appear in the Bible, the belief refers to an end-of-times event where Christians will be taken from Earth to Heaven to meet Jesus Christ upon his return. 

The modern theory of the rapture began in the 1830s with John Nelson Darby, and the belief in the rapture is largely drawn from passages of the New Testament, particularly 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which reads: ‘The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain 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.’ This passage has been interpreted by some Christians as evidence that believers will one day be taken to Heaven to be with Christ. 

However, a key part of the belief is that no one can know the exact time of the rapture. In 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, Paul calls it a ‘mystery,’ writing: ‘Not all believers will die, but all will be changed- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. Despite this uncertainty, many Evangelical Christians took Mhlakela’s claim backed by his vision, as proof that the event would happen in late September.

TikTok’s algorithm largely amplified the rapture prediction, resulting in over 370,000 posts under #rapture and over 20,000 under #rapturetok. Thousands of users took to the platform to share their excitement, preparation, tips and even concern for the upcoming rapture. One user, @hannajoesimpson, posted a tearful clip on September 21st; appearing visibly distraught, she expressed how if the rapture were to happen, that would mean ‘I only have a few days left with my kids.’ Another creator, @gwowls (Gwyneth),  uploaded a ‘Get Ready With Me for the Rapture’ video on September 23rd, which included her selecting an ‘angel-inspired’ outfit and saying she was ‘pretty excited, but a little bit nervous.’

While some content was clearly satirical or made for engagement, the trend also revealed a darker side: collective hysteria. Around mid to late September of this year, during the height of #rapturetok, reports surfaced of people selling their belongings, including cars and houses, in preparation for the rapture; believing they would no longer need worldly possessions.

Religious psychosis is when someone becomes disconnected from reality and embraces extreme, delusional religious beliefs. For example, being certain the world will end on a specific date because social media said so. When amplified on social media, these ideas can morph into collective delusions, with people influencing one another to act on apocalyptic fears. The viral rapture predictions of 2025, illustrate how quickly these beliefs can move from online speculation, to real-world consequences.

Although trends like #rapturetok can be entertaining to watch or even participate in, we can’t ignore the danger of how irrational ideas can spiral into mass panic online. It’s crucial to reinforce the importance of media literacy and critical thinking through the understanding of how social media’s viral nature can manipulate one's perception and amplify misinformation. Recognising the cult-like tendencies that can emerge within online religious spaces is equally important, as echo chambers and algorithms can easily turn belief into collective delusion.