Polymarket Highlights South African Pastor's Rapture Prediction for September 24, 2025

Polymarket, the cryptocurrency-based prediction market, has drawn attention to a viral prophecy by a South African pastor, Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed the Rapture would occur on September 23 or 24, 2025. The platform, known for allowing users to wager on future events, tweeted about the prediction, stating there was a "1% chance he's right." This announcement has fueled significant discussion across social media, particularly on TikTok under the hashtag #RaptureTok.

Pastor Mhlakela, who describes himself as "just a simple person, no title," first shared his prophecy in a YouTube interview, asserting that Jesus appeared to him in a dream in 2018. According to Mhlakela, Jesus explicitly told him, "On the 23rd and the 24th of September, 2025, I will come to take my church." He further linked this event to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suggesting that the chaos following the Rapture would prevent the tournament from taking place.

The prediction has sparked a mixed reaction globally, with some believers reportedly selling possessions and quitting jobs in anticipation, while skeptics and satirists have widely mocked the claims. News reports indicate that the dates chosen by Mhlakela coincide with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Feast of Trumpets, which some Christian circles symbolically link to end-times prophecies. However, mainstream theological interpretations often cite Matthew 24:36, which states, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father," to dispute such precise predictions.

Polymarket itself has a market titled "Will Jesus Christ return in 2025?", which has seen substantial trading volume, exceeding $974,000. While the specific odds for a September 24, 2025, rapture are not explicitly detailed as 1% on the main market, the platform's tweet reflects a minimal perceived likelihood. The incident highlights the platform's role in aggregating public sentiment and speculation, even on highly unconventional topics.

The phenomenon underscores a recurring pattern of end-times predictions throughout history, none of which have materialized. Religious scholars and commentators consistently emphasize that such date-setting prophecies lack biblical support and often lead to disappointment and a crisis of faith among followers. As September 24, 2025, progresses, the world watches to see if Mhlakela's prophecy will join the long list of unfulfilled predictions.