Panic Grips TikTok Users Duped by “End of the World” Prophecy

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This week, social media especially TikTok was thrown into a frenzy after a wave of viral videos claimed that the world was about to end and urged people to prepare for the return of Jesus Christ.

The panic stemmed from a YouTube video originally posted in June 2025 by Pastor Joshua Mhlakela from South Africa, who claimed to have received a divine revelation in a dream that the Rapture would take place on September 23 and 24, 2025.

“He told me, ‘On the 23rd and 24th of September, I will come to take my church,’” Mhlakela declared in the video.

The so-called “Rapture” is a Christian belief that at an unknown time, Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to take believers with Him, as the dead rise and the faithful are lifted to meet Him in the sky.

A 2022 Pew Research Center study found that 47% of Christians in the United States believe humanity is living in the end times, while 58% of others disagree.

In the days leading up to the predicted date, religious influencers on TikTok amplified the message. One evangelist known as @kingdomwealth posted,

“This is the time to prepare your families get them ready to go home to heaven.”

Another user, @romans.ten.9through11, added a dramatic farewell:

“This is my last video. See you in the clouds, brothers and sisters.”

Many believers linked the prophecy to global events, citing climate change, the war in Ukraine, and the conflict in Gaza as signs that the end was near.

However, the world did not end and mental health professionals have since raised concerns about the psychological impact of such apocalyptic claims.

Josie McSkimming, an Australian psychotherapist, said such prophecies can cause significant anxiety, especially among people raised in churches that emphasize end-time teachings.

“I often see clients who’ve left those churches but still suffer deep fear that the world could end at any moment,” she explained. “That fear is only intensified by the wars and turmoil we see around the world today.”