When Social Media Claims and Scripture Clash
Have you seen the viral TikTok claiming Jesus would return September 23–24, 2025? Many believed it. Some even quit jobs, abandoned homes, or sold belongings in expectation. But the date came and went. Shockingly, no Jesus.
I’ve walked with Christians through false prophecy claims for years. In fact, I study biblical prophecy and teach about it. So when I saw this TikTok rapture prediction, alarm bells rang.
So today I’ll walk you step by step through:
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Why setting a date is dangerous and unbiblical.
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What the Bible does teach about knowing or not knowing the return.
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How to respond if someone makes a prophecy like this.
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How to help others who’ve been shaken.
If you stay with me, you’ll leave more confident in your faith, more discerning of prophecy claims, and better able to help others who may be deceived.
The TikTok Rapture Claim: What Happened
First, here’s what went viral. Joshua Mhlakela, a man from South Africa, claimed God showed him a vision. He proclaimed:
“On the 23rd and the 24th of September, 2025, I [Jesus] will come to take my church.”
Many people on TikTok believed him. Some quit their jobs. Some left their homes unlocked. Some skipped school. Some got rid of their cars. Then, September 23–24 passed without Jesus appearing. Vibe+4AP News+4KSBW+4
Disappointment followed. Some believers posted tearful videos. Others apologized for spreading the claim. New York Post+1
This is not new. We’ve seen date‐setting prophecies before and their failure leaves damage.
Why People Are Drawn to Date Predictions
A Search for Certainty
In uncertain times, many crave a fixed answer. If someone says, “Here’s when Jesus will return,” that feels powerful. But it often leads to disappointment.
Emotional Pressure & Viral Culture
On TikTok, viral content spreads fast. When enough people comment, share, or believe it, the claim gains momentum. Fear, hope, and groupthink all fuel it. Vibe+2KSBW+2
Spiritual Naïveté & Lack of Discernment
Many don’t study prophecy carefully. So when someone claims a vision, they accept it without testing. That opens doors for false prophecy.
What the Bible Says: You Cannot Know the Day or Hour
The strongest counter is simple—and clear. Jesus said:
“But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).
Therefore, any claim to know a date contradicts Christ’s own words.
Also, the Bible warns about false prophets. Deuteronomy 18:20 says that a prophet who speaks in God’s name but what he says does not come to pass is a false prophet.
Jesus also warned:
“Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will mislead many.” (Matthew 24:5)
Whenever a date is given, that’s a red flag. We must test such claims against Scripture.
Why Christ’s First Coming Prophecies Matter
You might ask: If prophecy can be misused, why trust biblical prophecy at all?
Consider: Jesus fulfilled over 100 Old Testament prophecies about His first coming. Historians—both Christian and secular, agree many details align in ways that are hard to explain by chance.
One mathematician, Peter Stoner, calculated the odds of just eight prophecies being fulfilled by one man by chance, 1 in 10^17. But Jesus fulfilled many more than eight.
So prophecy has been reliable in the past. That gives credibility to prophecy about the Second Coming. But it also demands humility: we must not claim more than Scripture allows.
What to Do When a Prophecy Fails
1. Don’t Panic
If a date passes and nothing happens, don’t crumble. Jesus already warned. Hold fast.
2. Examine What You Believe
Ask: Did this claim align with Scripture? Did the proclaimer allow for error? Did they demand total trust in themselves?
3. Comfort Those Who Were Misled
Many believers were shaken. Some stopped school, some sold homes. They feel guilt, shame, doubt. Be kind, listen, walk with them back.
4. Equip Yourself for Discernment
Study prophecy. Know what the Bible says. Read trustworthy teachers. Be humble, not arrogant.
Story: What I Heard from a Friend
Let me tell you about Mary (name changed). She told me she sold her car when she saw a TikTok video claiming Jesus would return that weekend. She said, “It felt wrong afterward. I felt deceived and foolish.”
I didn’t judge. Instead, I gently asked, “How much did that prophecy rest on Scripture? Did the person allow for the possibility of error?”
We walked together through Mark 13:32. We prayed. Her faith hurt for a while, but she emerged wiser, stronger, and more cautious about prophecy claims.
Her story is like many others. We need to approach such claims with compassion, not condemnation.
Quick Quiz: Are You Spotting a False Prophecy?
Answer “Yes” or “No”:
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Does the prophecy-maker claim a confirmed date for Jesus’ return? ___
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Do they demand your full trust in their visions, with no room for error? ___
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Do they ask for money, fame, or influence tied to the prophecy? ___
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Is their claim contradicted by verses like Mark 13:32? ___
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Do they welcome testing and correction from Scripture and other believers? ___
If you answered “Yes” to 1, 2, or 4, red flags are waving.
Poll: What Did You Do After Hearing the TikTok Prediction?
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I prepared, sold things or quit plans
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I doubted but stayed watchful
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I ignored it right away
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I’m still unsure
(You can run this poll in your blog comments or social media to engage readers.)
Why This Matters: Reputation, Faith, Witness
When prophecy fails, non-Christians laugh. Churches get bruised. Christian witness suffers.
But when we handle failed predictions wisely, humble, Scriptural, caring, we shine differently. We show the world that our faith is not in human predictions but in Christ.
We show that we love truth more than sensational claims.
Final Thoughts: Hold Fast, But Test Everything
Date-setting claims are dangerous. They allure, they mislead, and they hurt. But God’s Word stands firm.
So let us:
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Remember Mark 13:32 and refuse any claim that violates it
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Test prophecy carefully against Scripture
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Walk with others who got hurt, not shun them
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Grow in biblical literacy and discernment
Because the return of Christ is sure. It’s promised. But when it will happen? We do not, and must not, pretend to know.
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