RaptureTok

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The correct title of this article is #RaptureTok. The omission of the # is due to technical restrictions.

#RaptureTok (AKA "RaptureTok" or "Rapture Tok"[1]) was a viral[2][3] hashtag[4] used on social media, particularly on TikTok,[5][6][7] in September 2025 to promote or mock[8][9] a religion-based end of the world prediction for September 23 or 24[10] by South African Christian Joshua Mhlakela in an interview that prior June.[11] It was another in a series of failed Rapture predictions.[12]

In preparation, people posted about selling their possessions,[13] leaving their jobs,[14] taking time off work, selling their cars, and leaving notes for those left behind, while others made jokes and created memes, as part of approximately 300,000 posts on the topic on TikTok.[15]

Experts, such as Kim Haines-Eitzen (professor of religion at Cornell), said the phenomenon was a sign of a culture in distress.[16] Robert D. Cornwall, a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), said, "Interest in the Second Coming of Christ, the rapture and other predictions of the end of the world often emerges during times of stress and anxiety", adding that:

In this moment, there is great uncertainty about the economy, political instability, the rise of authoritarianism around the globe, including the United States, along with wars and rumors of wars, all of which create anxiety [...] making [the larger population] susceptible to suggestions that Jesus might soon return and remove true believers from the Earth before the times of tribulation arrive.[17]

Matthew Gabriele, professor in the Department of Religion and Culture at Virginia Tech, said:

Usually when things are getting 'really bad', that's when the elect will be saved. So it's not a surprise that [people are predicting the rapture] in this particular moment, where there's political violence, economic concerns, disease, etc – these are very common tropes within apocalyptic texts.[18]

Aftermath

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After the date came and went, there were mixed responses from those who had believed the Rapture imminent.[13] Some expressed disappointment, regret[13] and heartbreak.[19] Others reinterpreted the prophecy, which Cornell Associate Professor of sociology Landon Schnabel described as fitting a "pattern we've seen for centuries: prediction, failure, reinterpretation, new prediction".[20]

For his part, Mhlakela stated that the Rapture would actually occur on October 7th and 8th based on the Julian calendar.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Foster, R. Daniel (2025-09-22). "'RaptureTok' Craze Explained: Why We're Drawn To End Times". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  2. ^ Jackson, Hallie (2025-09-23). "'RaptureTok' goes viral fueling jokes and frenzy among several groups". NBC News. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  3. ^ Price, Justin (2025-09-22). "What is "RaptureTok"? Internet Reacts to Viral Trend Predicting the End of the World on Sept 23". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  4. ^ "#RaptureTok and the history of end-times beliefs: Cornell religion expert". Cornell College of Arts & Sciences. 2025-09-25. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  5. ^ Williams, Jalen (2025-09-22). "Is the rapture happening this week? Tens of thousands on TikTok create 'RaptureTok' videos". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  6. ^ Di Placido, Dani (2025-09-22). "'RaptureTok'—Why TikTok Predicted The End Of The World". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  7. ^ Snelling, Grace (2025-09-22). "Why TikTok thinks the Rapture is happening this Tuesday". Fast Company. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  8. ^ Raiken, Amber (2025-09-23). "'RaptureTok' goes viral as Evangelical Christians predict the end of the world is today... or tomorrow". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  9. ^ Henao, Luis Andres (2025-09-23). "A doomsday prediction about the Rapture is spreading on TikTok". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  10. ^ Haines-Eitzen, Kim (2025-09-23). "Apocalypse now? Cornell religion experts on #RaptureTok and the history of end-times beliefs". Cornell Chronicle: Daily news from Cornell University. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  11. ^ Zhuang, Yan (2025-09-23). "The Rapture Was Predicted to Happen Today. TikTok Has Some Advice". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  12. ^ "If you're reading this, the rapture probably didn't happen. (Again.)". The Washington Post. 2025-09-23. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  13. ^ a b c de Jesus, Peter Michael (25 September 2025). ""I Sold My House Already": The Rapture Didn't Come, But The Heartbreak For "RaptureTok" Is Very Real". Bored Panda. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  14. ^ Misra, Riya (23 September 2025). "Why the internet thinks the Rapture is coming". POLITICO. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  15. ^ Arnold, Bella (2025-09-22). "Yes, "The Rapture" Has Been Predicted For This Week, And Here's How Christian TikTokers Are Preparing To Ascend". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  16. ^ Jackson, Lauren (28 September 2025). "Let's Talk About the Rapture". The New Yok Times. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  17. ^ Cornwall, Robert D. (25 September 2025). "The roots of belief in the Rapture that didn't happen". MSNBC. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  18. ^ Demopoulos, Alaina (23 September 2025). "'It's prime time for rapture talk': TikTok gets its first 'world is ending' moment". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  19. ^ a b van den Heever, Megan (28 September 2025). "South African pastor sets NEW date for 'Rapture'". The South African. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  20. ^ Cabrera, Seneca (30 September 2025). "Rapture 2025 New Date: Here's When Some Christians Believe It's Going To Happen". International Business Times. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
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