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‘Why is everyone still here?’ — S’African pastor under fire over failed rapture prediction

claire@cablefoundation.org'byClaire Mom
September 24, 2025 8:19 am
Joshua Mhlakela, a South African pastor under fire for failed rapture prediction Joshua Mhlakela, a South African pastor under fire for failed rapture prediction
Joshua Mhlakela

Joshua Mhlakela, a South African pastor, has received plenty of flak after his much-publicised prediction that the world would end with a rapture on Tuesday failed to materialise.

Rapture is rooted in the Christian teaching that Jesus will return to earth to take true believers to heaven — before a period of great tribulation culminates in the end of the world.

Mhlakela predicted the rapture in a July interview with CettwinzTV.

The pastor said he had a supernatural encounter and suggested that the “rapture” would occur over two days — September 23 and 24.

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The dates coincided with Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish New Year.

Recounting a “divine vision”, the cleric said he saw Jesus sitting on his throne prophesying, “I am coming soon. I will come back to the earth”.

“The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not,” he added.

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Ahead of the prediction, there were reports of individuals handing in resignation letters, while others discussed selling property, vehicles, and even cashing out retirement savings.

Faith-driven decisions like these are not unprecedented. In past doomsday predictions — such as Harold Camping’s failed rapture dates in 2011 — some Christians did liquidate assets.

But Mhlakela’s forecast triggered more ridicule than fear, drawing a flurry of mock comments online.

Ahead of the said dates, a social media user asked if the rapture was occurring by time zones.

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