A failed prediction of the rapture by South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela has reportedly caused significant distress among his followers, with some lamenting the loss of jobs, homes, and belongings after preparing for the event.
Mhlakela had confidently predicted that the rapture—the popular Christian belief in Jesus Christ’s return to take followers to heaven—would occur between Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24.
The Prophecy and Viral Belief
Mhlakela, known for making doomsday predictions, claimed in an interview with CettwinzTV that Jesus had appeared to him in a vision, revealing the precise date. He stated the event was tied to the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), a Jewish festival he believed pointed prophetically to the rapture.
“I’m a billion per cent sure that we are going to see the Lord, the rapture is going to happen,” Mhlakela asserted, calling the September 23 date “irrefutable, it is final.”
The prophecy gained substantial traction, especially on social media, where the hashtag #RaptureTok trended. While many dismissed the claim, others took drastic measures:
- Financial Ruin: Some believers resigned from their jobs and sold off their property and possessions.
- Public Testimony: TikTok users publicly declared their belief. One user, Spencer Vans, announced he was giving away his car and had already sold most of his belongings, stating he would “not be needing any of my earthly things anymore.” Another user, Hannah Gallman, claimed God confirmed the timeframe in a personal vision.
The Aftermath: Disappointment and Regret
On the predicted day, videos of hundreds of people gathered in the woods, awaiting the heavenly ascent, went viral. Mhlakela himself went live online, confidently declaring the rapture was imminent.
However, after the window passed without incident, Mhlakela urged patience, saying, “I wonder how God works this out. What I know is that it will happen within these two days, but I cannot tell how He arranges the minutes and the seconds.”
The failed prophecy prompted an outpouring of despair online. A user named Sath Babii took to TikTok to express devastation and regret: “I left my job, I gave away my things, I am feeling really lost… I don’t think that I could really be Christian anymore.” Another user, sobbing in a video, lamented: “I donated… I sold my car, I gave away my favourite funko pop, everything is gone.”
Condemnation from Church Leaders
The prophecy and its fallout drew strong condemnation from established Christian figures across Nigeria.
Pastor Chris Okotie, the Shepherd Superintendent of the House of the Household of God Church, sharply criticized Mhlakela’s claim, describing it as the “prideful ejaculations of a spiritual charlatan.” Okotie argued the prediction was unbiblical and advised Mhlakela not to become despondent, urging him to “pick up the pieces, be a man and get on with your faith.”
Officials from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also weighed in, calling for sanctions against such “heretical preachers.”
- Abimbola Ayuba, National Director of National Issues and Social Welfare of CAN, regretted that people still fell for the prediction, stating, “The pastor should be raptured into detention.” He also called for checks on the misuse of religious freedom, especially when it comes to “misleading vulnerable people.”
- Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Lagos State Chairman of CAN, dismissed the prophecy as a “fallacy” and unbiblical, noting that the Bible teaches that “no one knows the time and the season.” He suggested those making such predictions were merely seeking attention and material gain.
Source: African Publicity
