This year, some corners of Christian social media are abuzz with claims that the rapture will occur on Rosh Hashanah, which begins the evening of September 23. Posts on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms are circulating instructions on how to prepare, from letting go of objects while “rising” to leaving notes for those left behind.

The current prediction is linked to a South African pastor, Joshua Mhlakela, who said he had a vision of trumpets heralding the event. Rosh Hashanah, often called the “Feast of Trumpets,” made the timing resonate with many believers. A viral company-wide email from a South African accountant further spread the idea online.

Debates now range from whether the event would happen on Israeli time to biblical calculations involving shofars and witnesses of the new moon. Still, historians note that the modern rapture idea only dates back to the 1830s, popularized by minister John Nelson Darby and later the Scofield Reference Bible. Scholars and pastors are urging calm, pointing out that hundreds of Rosh Hashanahs have passed without such an event.

Despite skepticism, many online communities are sharing imagery of people rising into the sky, inspired by media depictions like The Leftovers. For those convinced, preparations continue. For others, it’s a reminder of how religious traditions, Jewish and Christian alike, continue to shape modern conversations about time, prophecy, and hope.

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Read the full article from the original source:
The Forward – Great news! The rapture is coming on Rosh Hashanah
Source: The Forward, September 2025