Sunday Special Report: Chaos in South Africa as Pastor’s Failed Rapture Prophecy Shatters Lives
A wave of shock and despair has gripped parts of South Africa following the failed rapture prophecy of Pastor Joshua Mhlakela. The controversial preacher had boldly declared that the rapture — the moment Christians believe Jesus Christ will return to take his faithful to heaven — would take place between Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24.
Many of his followers, convinced by the prophecy, sold their belongings, abandoned jobs, and even walked away from homes in anticipation of being “caught up” to meet Christ. But as the days passed without a trumpet sound or a heavenly ascension, hope quickly turned to heartbreak.
The aftermath has left many devastated, struggling to rebuild their lives and questioning how they could have been so easily swayed. Critics say Mhlakela’s failed prediction is yet another example in a long history of doomsday prophecies that never came to pass, despite the Bible’s firm teaching on Christ’s eventual return.
Religious scholars warn that while belief in the rapture is deeply rooted in Christian doctrine, setting dates has always led to disappointment and disillusionment. For many South Africans, however, this latest failed prophecy has done more than test their faith — it has cost them their livelihoods
