He Said the Rapture Is Happening Today—and Christians Believe Him!

It’s September 23rd, and countless people around the world are preparing for what they believe is the Rapture. Why? Because viral videos have been spreading online declaring that Jesus will return on September 23rd or 24th, 2025.

One preacher in South Africa even claimed with absolute certainty:

“I give you a billion percent that on the 23rd or 24th the rapture of the church will take place.”

Statements like this grab attention, stir emotions, and—sadly—lead people into dangerous decisions. So how should Christians respond when someone confidently sets a date for Christ’s return?

Why This Debate Misses the Point: A Preacher’s Bold Claim

Some might be tempted to turn this into a theological debate about pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib views of the rapture. But the real issue here isn’t the timing of the rapture—it’s the harm that comes when people are led astray.

False predictions don’t just create arguments online. They hurt real people and shake their faith, which leads to broken trust. Share on X

And sometimes, they lead to financial ruin.

The most viral claim this year came from a preacher in South Africa. He said that from the time Israel became a nation in 1948, there would be 77 years until what he called the “Exodus”—but he actually meant the Rapture.

According to him, this would land exactly on September 23rd or 24th, 2025.

But notice: it wasn’t even a firm date. It was “this day or that day.” And yet thousands of Christians still embraced it as truth, forgetting that Scripture never gives us permission to set such dates.

The Real-Life Cost of False Prophecies: Stories That Show the Danger

Sadly, many people didn’t just hear this prediction—they acted on it. Some sold their belongings. Others emptied their retirement accounts. Still others gave away money recklessly because they thought they wouldn’t need it after the 23rd or 24th.

Why would they do this? Because if you truly believed the rapture was happening tomorrow, your possessions would feel meaningless.

Why save for a future you won’t live to see? Why worry about retirement when eternity is only hours away?

This is exactly why date-setting is so dangerous. It doesn’t just stir curiosity. It changes lives in ways that leave people hurting when the prophecy fails.

A story was told about a pastor who agreed with his congregation that the Lord was coming back in September. His words carried so much influence that people began to prepare—not spiritually, but financially—by giving everything away.

Then there was the Uber driver who shared his shocking experience on TikTok. He picked up a weeping couple from church who told him that Jesus was returning the next day. Believing they wouldn’t need their money anymore, they gave the driver nearly $2,000 in cash.

The driver was stunned—but this is what happens when people are convinced by false prophecies. They don’t just misinterpret Scripture; they make costly life choices.

A Pattern That Happens Every Year: Be on Guard Like the Bereans

And here’s the sad reality: this isn’t new. Every single year, someone rises up with a viral prophecy claiming to know the exact date of the end.

Every year, thousands fall into the same trap. And every year, those dates come and go without fulfillment.

Jesus Himself warned us that this would happen. He said in Matthew 24:23-24:

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” – Matthew 24:23-24

This is why Christians must be discerning. The enemy has always sought to deceive God’s people, and one of his favorite tricks is twisting Scripture to stir fear and confusion.

So how do we guard ourselves? By being like the Bereans.

Acts 17:11 says:

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

They didn’t just accept someone’s teaching at face value. They opened the Scriptures to confirm whether it was true. That’s exactly what we must do when we hear dramatic claims about the rapture, the end times, or anything else.

Jesus’ Command: Be Ready

The Bible doesn’t tell us to focus on dates. Instead, Jesus gave us a simple command:

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come… Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
—Matthew 24:42, 44

The focus is not on when He comes but on how we live until He comes.

Our job isn’t to chase after the next viral prophecy but to stay faithful, prayerful, and ready. Share on X

Whether you believe in pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib, the command is the same: be ready for your Lord’s return.

Focus on Faithfulness

Every generation has seen false prophets rise up claiming to know the end. And every generation has had believers caught off guard by their words. But Jesus already told us the truth: no one knows the day or the hour.

Faithfulness matters more than fearing dates. Obedience to Christ is better than emptying accounts in panic.

Standing firm on God’s Word will protect us from confusion. Share on X

Because the real question is not when Jesus will return, but rather, will He find us faithful when He does?

If you’d like to go deeper into this topic, I encourage you to read this article next: Did Jesus Know the Hour of His Return? —It will help you see why Jesus’ own words about not knowing the hour remind us to live in daily readiness, not in date-setting speculation.

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