To say that the internet is a strange place would be the understatement of the century. Information and news from all around the world float all over the internet. With a barrage of information online, it’s no wonder that people start to connect dots and draw parallels between events and situations. And thus, conspiracy theories are born overnight, which may or may not be true.
The latest conspiracy that has everyone in a tizzy is an alleged upcoming rapture. Now called the Christian Rapture, a South African pastor’s claims of getting visions of Jesus Christ telling him that there is going to be a rapture on September 23 and 24, 2025, have gone viral. However, who is this South African pastor, Joshua Mhlakela? Here’s everything to know about him.
‘Christians Rapture’ pastor, Joshua Mhlakela said God told his name to his father in a dream
Joshua Mhlakela had been largely unknown, about whom no one had previously heard. However, now, not only is he all over the headlines, but his prophecy has started the trend #RaptureTok. All of this started with his interview on the YouTube channel, CettwinzTV posted on June 17, 2025. In the interview, Joshua introduced himself and said that he is from Cape Town but currently resides in Johannesburg.
Talking about his birth, Joshua claimed that when he was in his mother’s womb, his father had a dream in which God told them to name the baby ‘Joshua’ even though they did not know the baby’s gender. The pastor also stated that he had a ‘miraculous’ birth since the doctors were sure that he was going to be stillborn. Joshua also said that after he was born, his mother had to fight a ‘spiritual force’ that disappeared after she held him.
Joshua Mhlakela became a Christian in 2000 and had a vision of an angel
Joshua Mhlakela described his childhood and said that he was once kidnapped at the age of four or five, but returned safely by the ‘grace of God’. However, around his teenage years, Joshua revealed that he had suicidal thoughts and even tried to self-harm before God saved him. As a result, he became a Christian in 2000. And the very first vision he had after turning towards spirituality was that of an angel who wanted to cut down demons, the pastor shared.
Joshua Mhlakela doesn’t consider himself a pastor
Although many people have come to know him as a pastor after his interview, Joshua does not view himself as one. He stated that he had resigned from the post of assistant pastor after seven years. Later, Joshua also started his own church but closed it down. Now Joshua said that he is just a person and has no title when asked if he was a full-time pastor.
What are Joshua Mhlakela’s claims about the Christians Rapture?
In the interview, which has now garnered millions of views on YouTube, Joshua Mhlakela stated that he was appearing on the channel to announce to the world about Jesus Christ’s return and the allegedly impending Christian Rapture. As most believers trust the biblical notion that with Christ’s coming to the world, the believers will be taken to heaven and the world will end, many people have ended up preparing for it. Talking about the supposed rapture, Joshua said:
“Jesus sitting on his throne, and I could hear him very loud and clear saying, ‘I am coming soon.’ He said to me, ‘On the 23rd and 24th of September 2025, I will come to take my church’.”
What are your thoughts on Joshua Mhlakela’s prophecy about the Christian rapture? Let us know.
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