A South African pastor who previously predicted the Rapture would occur in September 2025 has returned with another date. And this time, the clock is once again running out.
Pastor Joshua Mhlakela claimed Oct. 12-13 would mark the Rapture, telling followers that God had revealed the timing to him, according to the New York Post.
“God told me because there’s no other date coming out, 12 to 13 October, which is the true feast of trumpets, which is when I will be meeting my savior face to face in the Rapture,” Mhlakela said.
There is just one glaring problem: Mhlakela has been down this road before.
His previous prediction placed the Rapture around Sept. 23-24, 2025. When Christ did not return according to that timetable, Mhlakela did not abandon his date-setting. Instead, he reportedly argued that the biblical calendar calculation for the Feast of Trumpets had been incorrect.
The consequences of the earlier prediction apparently went beyond an embarrassing missed deadline. The New York Post reported that some followers made major life decisions in anticipation of the Rapture, including selling possessions, leaving jobs and neglecting school responsibilities.
Now, with another deadline arriving and passing us by, Christians should be asking a much bigger question than whether Mhlakela’s calendar calculations are correct: What does the Bible actually say?
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Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:36 (MEV) could hardly be clearer: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows.”
Jesus commanded His followers to watch and remain ready for His return. He did not command them to start circling dates on the calendar.
And there’s another warning believers cannot afford to ignore.
Jesus warned that deception and false prophets would characterize the last days. Matthew 24:11 (MEV) says, “And many false prophets will rise and will deceive many.”
That makes biblical discernment—not sensationalism—essential.
The return of Jesus Christ is not something Christians should mock, minimize or treat casually. Scripture tells believers that Jesus Christ will return. The question is not whether Christians should watch for His coming. They absolutely should.
The problem begins when human speculation gets stamped with the words, “God told me.”
Ultimately, Christians are called to watch, pray and remain ready. However, Scripture, not somebody’s calendar, must have the final word on what we believe.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
