WILD predictions that the world will end in the Bible-prophesied Rapture are spreading in a frenzy across social media.
The “RaptureTok” trend appears to have been sparked by a South African pastor who predicted the apocalypse on YouTube.
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Joshua Mhlakela went viral and sparked the frenzy after revealing that the he believes Rapture will happen on September 23 and September 24.
He claimed he was sent a vision from Jesus proclaiming the Second Coming.
And at least 395,000 TikToks have been posted in the the last few days mentioning the word “Rapture”.
Google has also reported a 5000 per cent increase in searches for topics on the end of days and return of Jesus.
The rapture refers to a Christian belief that one day, Jesus will return, and take all true believers up to heaven, leaving others behind.
It is often seen as happening before a time of great trouble on Earth, called the Tribulation.
Mhlakela has said he is “one billion per cent” sure in his prediction on the rapture.
Some social media users are taking the prediction seriously, while others are dealing with the impending apocalypse slightly more tongue-in-cheek way.
In an interview on YouTube earlier this month, Mhlakela said: “The Rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or you are not ready.”
“I saw Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, ‘I am coming soon’.”
The prophecy, which supposedly came to Mklakela in a dream, has since permeated onto social media in the form of the “RaptureTok” trend online.
This trend takes the from of people offering fellow believers “rapture tips” on how not to get caught up in the subsequent anarchy.
Accounts have produced countdown montages featuring Bibles verses, whilst there has also been a rise in popularity of Hashtags like #raptureready and #jesusiscoming.
Some followers of the movement are even said to be frantically preparing for the phenomenon by quitting their jobs and selling houses and vehicles.
Others have been offering tips for the “trip” – and suggestions how they may help sinners who are “left behind”.
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Amidst the panic, one Christian influencer made sure to have all bases covered: “While there’s nothing in the Bible that explicitly says what happens to your pets in the rapture – I believe they come with us.
However, others have seen this as an opportunity to mock the more evangelical amongst us.
One user wrote: “I will take your car, I will take all your money. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
The word “rapture” itself does not feature in the Bible, but the idea comes from verses like 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
Some people believe it will be secret and sudden, while others think it will be part of Jesus’ final return.
It has been depicted in pop culture, especially in movies such as Left Behind and TV show The Leftovers.
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