In case you missed it, the Rapture was supposed to happen last week, on or around September 23 or September 24 2025 according to many fundamentalist evangelical Christians

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/rapture-bible-christianity-end-times-american-evangelicals-rcna233434

This latest apocalyptic ‘end of days’ prediction began a few years ago with a South African pastor called Joshua Mhlaka who apparently had a dream in 2018 which predicted that Jesus would return to this world on those dates, gather the faithful, and take them all back with him up into heaven.

This prediction began to gain enormous traction on TikTok under the viral hashtag  #RaptureTok - especially among American evangelical christians  - to the point when many of them abandoned their jobs, sold off their cars and possessions, and began leaving triumphal farewell ‘Post 24’ video messages for friends and relatives to be viewed after September 24th by those of us unlucky enough to be left behind to live out our remaining days on earth as miserable sinners in the company of the damned.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e9e4_6ike7w

The concept of the ‘Rapture ( Greek: ἁρπάζω harpazo - “to snatch away") is based on a reading of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, a letter from the Apostle Paul, which speaks of Christ’s followers’ being caught up when he returns in the clouds at the end of time. Followers of these eschatalogical cults have often associated this idea with a belief in the Second Coming (Greek: παρουσία parousia  - “arrival”) of Jesus Christ referred to in Acts 1:11, the Book of Revelations 1:7, 14:14, 19:11-16 , and elsewhere - or at least those who subscribe to a belief system called  ‘Dispensational Premillenialism’ do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture

An alternate view known as ‘Pretribulationism’ regards the Rapture and the Second Coming as two different events. No doubt all will be explained in due course once they actually happen. Meanwhile a deafening silence has descended on #RaptureTok ever since September 24 passed off without hordes of true believers floating up into heaven to join their lord and creator.

24 minutes ago, toucana said:

In case you missed it, the Rapture was supposed to happen last week, on or around September 23 or September 24 2025 according to many fundamentalist evangelical Christians

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/rapture-bible-christianity-end-times-american-evangelicals-rcna233434

This latest apocalyptic ‘end of days’ prediction began a few years ago with a South African pastor called Joshua Mhlaka who apparently had a dream in 2018 which predicted that Jesus would return to this world on those dates, gather the faithful, and take them all back with him up into heaven.

This prediction began to gain enormous traction on TikTok under the viral hashtag  #RaptureTok - especially among American evangelical christians  - to the point when many of them abandoned their jobs, sold off their cars and possessions, and began leaving triumphal farewell ‘Post 24’ video messages for friends and relatives to be viewed after September 24th by those of us unlucky enough to be left behind to live out our remaining days on earth as miserable sinners in the company of the damned.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e9e4_6ike7w

The concept of the ‘Rapture ( Greek: ἁρπάζω harpazo - “to snatch away") is based on a reading of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, a letter from the Apostle Paul, which speaks of Christ’s followers’ being caught up when he returns in the clouds at the end of time. Followers of these eschatalogical cults have often associated this idea with a belief in the Second Coming (Greek: παρουσία parousia  - “arrival”) of Jesus Christ referred to in Acts 1:11, the Book of Revelations 1:7, 14:14, 19:11-16 , and elsewhere - or at least those who subscribe to a belief system called  ‘Dispensational Premillenialism’ do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture

An alternate view known as ‘Pretribulationism’ regards the Rapture and the Second Coming as two different events. No doubt all will be explained in due course once they actually happen. Meanwhile a deafening silence has descended on #RaptureTok ever since September 24 passed off without hordes of true believers floating up into heaven to join their lord and creator.

What? Again? Didn’t we have another of these dates just a few years ago? They pop up periodically, making a new crowd of idiots feel sheepish each time.

But when you say “many” American evangelicals left their jobs and sold their possessions, how many? Not more than a couple of hundred surely?

I was going to leave a pair of shoes at the end of my driveway to make it look like I was taken to the passers-by, but it was raining and I didn’t want them to get wet.

Trump wanted to get raptured but the holy escalator at The UN knew better and stopped working.

1 hour ago, swansont said:

I was going to leave a pair of shoes at the end of my driveway to make it look like I was taken to the passers-by, but it was raining and I didn’t want them to get wet.

That's great!

1 hour ago, swansont said:

Trump wanted to get raptured

He does not know the difference between the OT and NT.

2 hours ago, swansont said:

I was going to leave a pair of shoes at the end of my driveway to make it look like I was taken to the passers-by, but it was raining and I didn’t want them to get wet.

Trump wanted to get raptured but the holy escalator at The UN knew better and stopped working.

"And she's buying a stairway, to heaven" - Mr L Zeppelin

2 hours ago, swansont said:

Trump wanted to get raptured but the holy escalator at The UN knew better and stopped working.

Today I saw a meme that said:

"Live your life in such a way that if the escalator stops, you don't assume it's because people hate you."

24 minutes ago, KJW said:

Today I saw a meme that said:

"Live your life in such a way that if the escalator stops, you don't assume it's because people hate you."

Love it! 😄

All these predicted 'Raptures' have happened, and will continue to happen.

But every time they've happened, Jesus has come back to gather the faithful and take them back to Heaven, He can't seem to find any, and has left empty handed.
Maybe next time ...

Apparently, I have survived the rapture/end of the world around 60-80 times. This time seemed pretty much the same as most of the others...

It would be fun, on an upcoming rapture day, to buy up a big pile of clothes, shoes, cheap wigs, etc. from a thrift store's bargain bins, and then arrange them in little piles all over town. Have wildlife camera traps to record people's reactions.

I would understand (well, almost) updating wills so their stuff left behind goes where they want. (To their favourite sinner??)

But what's the deal with selling their stuff? They're not going to take the cash with them.

Is it a way to prove (perhaps to themselves) they believe? Show their faith to whomever?

16 hours ago, pzkpfw said:

I would understand (well, almost) updating wills so their stuff left behind goes where they want. (To their favourite sinner??)

But what's the deal with selling their stuff? They're not going to take the cash with them.

Is it a way to prove (perhaps to themselves) they believe? Show their faith to whomever?

There is some debate among evangelical christians as to exactly how many of the faithful will be taken up into heaven when the Rapture occurs. Some groups, most notably the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only 144,000 will be saved. Given that they have some 8.8 million active members (or “publishers” as the JW call them) this seems rather harsh -  just a 1.8% chance of salvation - even if you follow all prescribed beliefs and practices of the JW.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

Other Christian groups estimate that up to ~500 million will saved in the Rapture, Once again however, given there are approximately 2.3 billion Christians alive in the world, those odds  at 2.17% are not much better - and bear in mind that the Rapture is meant to include not only those currently alive, but also all of those who have died since the inception of the Christian era, and are now due for resurrection.

So even if you subscribe to these eschatalogiclal beliefs, it would be a given that only a tiny fraction of the population of true believers will be transported up to heaven at the time of Rapture, many others would be left behind with the rest of us sinners. It makes some sense therefore for those who genuinely believe they are going up to heaven in a few days time to cash-convert their possessions and arrange their affairs in order to benefit and sustain family members and fellow believers unlucky enough to miss out on the Rapture.

There is an entire book and film franchise called “Left Behind” devoted to the nitty-gritty details of post-apocalyptic life for those left behind on earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind_(film_series)

Edited September 30Sep 30 by toucana
corrected "will be" in penult. para

3 minutes ago, toucana said:

There is some debate among evangelical christians as to exactly how many of the faithful will be taken up into heaven when the Rapture occurs. Some groups, most notably the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only 144,000 will be saved. Given that they have some 8.8 million active members (or “publishers” as the JW call them) this seems rather harsh -  just a 1.8% chance of salvation - even if you follow all prescribed beliefs and practices of the JW.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

Other Christian groups estimate that up to ~500 million will saved in the Rapture, Once again however, given there are approximately 2.3 billion Christians alive in the world, those odds  at 2.17% are not much better - and bear in mind that the Rapture is meant to include not only those currently alive, but also all of those who have died since the inception of the Christian era, and are now due for resurrection.

So even if you subscribe to these eschatalogiclal beliefs, it would be a given that only a tiny fraction of the population of true believers will transported up to heaven at the time of Rapture, many others would be left behind with the rest of us sinners. It makes some sense therefore for those who genuinely believe they are going up to heaven in a few days time to cash-convert their possessions and arrange their affairs in order to benefit and sustain family members and fellow believers unlucky enough to miss out on the Rapture.

There is an entire book and film franchise called “Left Behind” devoted to the nitty-gritty details of post-apocalyptic life for those left  behind on earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind_(film_series)

Ah but you are not taking into account the explanatory power of the No True Scotsman gambit. Most of these Christians, you see, are not true Christians. The true Christians are just those belonging to whichever wacky sect is making the prediction.🤪

They even have a term, “churchian”, for people who go to church but don’t subscribe exactly to the specific set of beliefs that they do. These sects are all based on the exclusionary principle ( not Pauli’s 😁) , often excluding people by defining “chosen people” in a conveniently narrow way.

49 minutes ago, exchemist said:

Ah but you are not taking into account the explanatory power of the No True Scotsman gambit. Most of these Christians, you see, are not true Christians. The true Christians are just those belonging to whichever wacky sect is making the prediction.🤪

They even have a term, “churchian”, for people who go to church but don’t subscribe exactly to the specific set of beliefs that they do. These sects are all based on the exclusionary principle ( not Pauli’s 😁) , often excluding people by defining “chosen people” in a conveniently narrow way.

I suppose swansont is a "slipperyian" and not a true footware devotee.

Edited September 30Sep 30 by geordief

22 hours ago, TheVat said:

It would be fun, on an upcoming rapture day, to buy up a big pile of clothes, shoes, cheap wigs, etc. from a thrift store's bargain bins, and then arrange them in little piles all over town. Have wildlife camera traps to record people's reactions.

I’ve seen this suggestion. It was called “rapture trolling”

There wasn't much talk of it in Canada ( serious or trolling ).

I guess quite a few of you Americans will believe anything one of your leaders ( religious or political ), who dyes his hair ( black or orange ), will tell you.

2 hours ago, MigL said:

There wasn't much talk of it in Canada ( serious or trolling ).

I guess quite a few of you Americans will believe anything one of your leaders ( religious or political ), who dyes his hair ( black or orange ), will tell you.

It’s more closely tied in with nationalism than religion, IMO. Sort of an American Taliban, but with Christian Nationalists.

22 minutes ago, iNow said:

It’s more closely tied in with nationalism than religion, IMO. Sort of an American Taliban, but with Christian Nationalists.

Shame it doesn't work ,then.

3 hours ago, swansont said:

I’ve seen this suggestion. It was called “rapture trolling”

Not surprised I'm not the only person to think of this - 20 year old me, had the opportunity arisen, couldn't have resisted. When I googled "rapture trolling" however all my search results led this direction:

http://rapturetrollingflies.org/

38 minutes ago, TheVat said:

Not surprised I'm not the only person to think of this - 20 year old me, had the opportunity arisen, couldn't have resisted. When I googled "rapture trolling" however all my search results led this direction:

http://rapturetrollingflies.org/

Not recalling exactly what I googled, but it had to do with leaving shoes behind, and it led me here

Boston. Figures. Now I'm recalling a series where there's sort of a Rapture like event, not normally my taste, but it was so well done as a familial drama with great performances by Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon, among others, that I was sucked in. Or up, whatever applies. Had a great theme song by Iris Dement, "Let the Mystery Be." IIRC the narrative gets in some pretty sharp digs at the religious interpretations and reactions to what has happened, and them goes off on some more sci-fi direction mixed with magical realism. Really peculiar show. It doesn't spoonfeed you anything - you have to sort out your bafflement. Possibly the best familial drama that HBO ever did.

The show addresses the question of numbers which @toucana mentioned in the OP. About 2% of humanity disappears, but there are no clear-cut moral attributes about them. And the title finally came to me: The Leftovers.

On 9/29/2025 at 9:27 PM, pzkpfw said:

I would understand (well, almost) updating wills so their stuff left behind goes where they want. (To their favourite sinner??)

But what's the deal with selling their stuff? They're not going to take the cash with them.

Is it a way to prove (perhaps to themselves) they believe? Show their faith to whomever?

It's essentially piety, in a viral state, which is specifically warned against in the bible, fundamentally it's got nothing to do with religious teaching; a reasonable parallel is Hitler's take away, from the teachings of Neitsche... 😉

On 9/30/2025 at 11:26 PM, toucana said:

Some groups, most notably the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only 144,000 will be saved. Given that they have some 8.8 million active members (or “publishers” as the JW call them) this seems rather harsh -  just a 1.8% chance of salvation - even if you follow all prescribed beliefs and practices of the JW.

No. JWs (apart from the 144000) are not looking forward to going to heaven. They are looking forward to an everlasting life on a paradise earth after Armageddon. The 144000 who go to heaven already know who they are. They are the ones who partake in the bread and wine at the Memorial of Jesus’ death while everyone else passes these items from person to person without partaking in them. They know they are of the 144000 because they have been anointed with holy spirit. That is a personal thing between them and their god, and the organisation is not involved with this (the bread and wine are made available for anyone to partake).

In case you're wondering, I grew up in a JW household.

1 hour ago, KJW said:

No. JWs (apart from the 144000) are not looking forward to going to heaven. They are looking forward to an everlasting life on a paradise earth after Armageddon. The 144000 who go to heaven already know who they are. They are the ones who partake in the bread and wine at the Memorial of Jesus’ death while everyone else passes these items from person to person without partaking in them. They know they are of the 144000 because they have been anointed with holy spirit. That is a personal thing between them and their god, and the organisation is not involved with this (the bread and wine are made available for anyone to partake).

In case you're wondering, I grew up in a JW household.

Interesting. Does that mean that, to JWs, “holy spirit” is some kind of stuff, rather than the 3rd person of the Trinity as in regular Christianity?

1 hour ago, exchemist said:

Interesting. Does that mean that, to JWs, “holy spirit” is some kind of stuff, rather than the 3rd person of the Trinity as in regular Christianity?

JWs do not believe in the Trinity. Jehovah, his son, the angels, the 144000 after they have died and are resurrected, Satan, and the demons are all spirit entities. However, it's not exactly clear to me what it means to be "anointed with holy spirit". I have no experience that I can call upon and have no recollection of anyone who actually partook in the bread and wine. But, when Jesus was baptized, God's spirit descended upon him "like a dove" (Matthew 3:16), and his memory of his prehuman life in heaven returns to him. I imagine that being "anointed with holy spirit" would be like being infused with a tiny bit of God's power.