TikTok Says the Rapture Is Today, So Prepare Accordingly

One woman said she believes "with all my heart" that everyone will be raptured this week, but that she'll make an apology video if not.

By Lauren Tousignant | September 22, 2025 | 3:26pm

Photo: YouTube Entertainment Politics

TikTok Says the Rapture Is Today, So Prepare Accordingly

2025 hasn’t been a great year for the United States. And for me, as editor of Jezebel dot com, I’ve been infuriated by the number of times I’ve had to type out “Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)” due to his ongoing quest to use junk science to get the FDA to ban the abortion pill; I hate how often I have to listen to RFK Jr.’s brain-wormed skull make noises; and I can’t believe I had to hit publish on a story about Ezra fucking Klein saying that, actually, Democrats should throw women under the bus and find some “pro-life” candidates if there’s any hope to defeat Republicans. (Just for the record, Ezra, the term you’re looking for there is “anti-choice”!!)

So imagine my relief when I opened TikTok on Saturday and learned that it’ll all be over soon.

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Personally, I always imagined the end of the world would be caused by an asteroid, or maybe a nuclear “oopsie” from one of our dumb leaders. But no! According to the Christians on TikTok, the end of the world is Tuesday, September 23. I guess Taylor Swift’s team didn’t get the memo in time.

This latest rapture date came from a South African pastor named Joshua Mhlakela, who posted a “message” about it on YouTube in July. He said he’d had a dream: “I saw Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, ‘I am coming soon.’” He clarified that Jesus would be touching down “on the 23rd and 24th of September 2025.” His prediction had been gaining steam all summer, but was accelerated by the assassination of Charlie Kirk—since some kooky Christians seem to believe his death was a sign from God that the end is nigh. I’m going to attempt to somewhat unpack all of this.

My first introduction to RaptureTok was a woman who began her video saying, “So I told you guys that every day, I’m doing something to prep my home for whoever is here after the rapture, so let me show you what I did today.” She then shows us a bunch of printouts on her kitchen counter, one titled “Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls,” which are a series of judgments featured in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament that are apparently meant to signify the end times. RaptureTokers are also drawing a parallel between the seven trumpets and the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins on September 23.

Her printouts explain all of that and what the people left behind “need to be doing to prepare.” I watched this five times before I could accept that it’s not satire, and that this mother of two is being completely serious.

In her other videos (because she made a series!), she shows the notes she’s leaving throughout her home, so people can find leftover food and medicine. She also went to the dollar store to “stock up” on bibles, which she stacked on her kitchen counter. She taped little notes to the front of them, which read, “Jesus Loves You/ It’s not too late, take this bible, find other believers, Be careful who you trust. Do NOT take the mark in hand or forehead.” If she weren’t clearly in the middle of religious psychosis, it would all actually be incredibly thoughtful.

There have been many “raptures” before; one of the more recent predictions was set by Christian radio host Harold Camping in 2005, who said the rapture would take place on May 21, 2011, after his first prediction—September 6, 1994—didn’t happen. But this is our first rapture with TikTok, which is possibly what’s making me feel more insane. In 2011, we did not have midwestern moms making little videos about the “Jesus Loves You” notes they’re leaving throughout their home for the ones who are left behind.

“It’s bittersweet, because I know we’re going home, but it’s just been such a blessing to be able to do this,” another woman says in a video. (The “this,” I’m assuming, is getting to live on Earth.) She adds that she believes “with all my heart” that everyone will be raptured during the Feast of Trumpets, but she’ll make an apology video if not.

“Jesus is coming, ready or not,” she continues. “And if you don’t know Jesus, if you don’t know if you’re saved, if you question your salvation, the Bible tells us clearly, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, believe that he died on the cross for all of your sins.”

(I have to be honest: There’s a lot about Christianity that doesn’t make sense to me, but the biggest question I have is…if Jesus died for our sins, then like, aren’t we good? Why are you adhering to a hypocritical and convoluted moral code if your savior already took the hit for you??)

Other videos feature future rapturees instructing people to unlock their phones, or writing down their passcode somewhere, so all us sinners still stuck on Earth can access them if need be. One woman says that if you believe, you need to be wearing “your Jesus shirts and all that” and passing out “the mini Jesus.” Many people are posting their rapture checklists, explaining how they’re cleaning their homes, what they wrote in their “rapture letters,” how the people left behind can determine the difference between clothes from someone who was raptured and just a regular pile of clothes (???), their goodbyes to their children, and that they’re upset that their pets might not be raptured with them. (Plenty of commenters have assured these skyward-bound beings that we’ll take care of their dogs, no worries.)

The mass psychosis has sparked a trend of highly enjoyable satirical rapture videos, which have been very fun to scroll through, my personal favorites being the ones where TikTokers ask, “Help me pick an outfit for the rapture.” I plan to wear my lime green leggings and a giant white t-shirt with “RAPTURE” emblazoned across, like Kenneth Parcell in 30 Rock.

If you believe you’re being raptured this week, congratulations, I guess. I wish you well on your travels into the eternal whatever you think is there, and if you’re looking for a place to dump your bank account since you won’t need those pesky earthly possessions anymore, my Venmo is @lauren-tousignant <3

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