Nearly one year after a viral Rapture prediction sent some Christians into a frenzy, Jonathan Cahn is revisiting the scare while revealing the genuine prophetic connection between Christ’s return and the Feast of Trumpets.
The prediction claimed the Rapture would occur on Sept. 23, 2025. As that date approached, some believers reportedly sold possessions or feared they were about to be left behind.
The controversy began with an African pastor who said Jesus had given him the date in a vision. It spread further through a theory connecting Revelation 12 with an astronomical alignment involving Virgo, Leo, the sun, moon and Jupiter.
“We are not to despise prophetic utterances or such reports, but we can’t just accept them either just because someone says something,” Cahn said.
‘A Lot of Nothing’
Cahn walked through numerous problems with the theory, beginning with its dependence on constellations and pagan mythology.
“Where does the Bible say that God’s going to give signs of end-time events based on constellations? It never does,” he said.
The theory identifies the woman in Revelation 12 with Virgo and uses stars in Leo to form the crown of 12 stars described in the passage. Cahn said the interpretation forces details into Scripture that are not there.
“Where in Revelation 12 is there a lion? Where is there a Leo?” he asked.
Order Jonathan Cahn’s New Book, “The Altar of Pergamon” on Amazon.com!
Revelation 12 never calls the woman Virgo or even uses the word “virgin.” Leo also contains nine principal stars, forcing supporters of the theory to add planets to reach 12.
“Well, it’s a lot of forcing, a lot of stretching to make this thing work,” Cahn said. “That’s a giveaway. That’s a red flag.”
The alignment actually occurred in 2017, when some prophecy watchers also expected a major end-times event. Nothing happened. The 2025 prediction was based largely on the alignment’s eighth anniversary coinciding with the Feast of Trumpets.
“What are we left with? A lot of nothing,” Cahn said.
The Real Mystery of the Trumpets
Although Cahn rejected the 2025 date-setting theory, he said the Feast of Trumpets carries genuine prophetic significance.
The biblical observance, known as Yom Teruah, begins the seventh month and serves as a call to repentance and preparation before Yom Kippur.
“The trumpets are saying get ready,” Cahn said. “It’s saying prepare. Get ready, get right with God because you’re going to meet God.”
Cahn connected the feast with passages describing Christ’s return. First Thessalonians 4 says the Lord will descend with a shout, the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise before living believers are caught up to meet Him.
First Corinthians 15 similarly says believers will be transformed “at the last trumpet.”
“The trumpets appear, the Feast of Trumpets,” Cahn said. “The Lord comes with a trumpet.”
He also pointed to the prophetic pattern established through the biblical feasts. Jesus died during Passover, rose as the firstfruits and poured out the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The next feast awaiting prophetic fulfillment is the Feast of Trumpets.
Nearly a year after the failed prediction, Cahn warned Christians against letting dates, emotions, or supposed prophetic words shake their faith.
“God wants you strong,” he said. “He wants you not shaken.”
Whether the Rapture occurs during our lifetime or not, every person will eventually stand before the Lord.
“The truth is, we are all one heartbeat away from eternity,” Cahn said. “Are you ready? That’s the question.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
