South African preacher Joshua Mhlakela has claimed that Rapture will occur between October 12 and 13, 2026, after his earlier prediction that the event would take place in September 2025 failed.
Mhlakela previously predicted that the Rapture would occur between September 23 and 24, 2025, a claim that attracted widespread attention and prompted some followers to reportedly quit their jobs and sell their homes and cars in anticipation of the event.
However, the predicted date passed without the Rapture occurring. Following the failed prediction, Mhlakela reportedly said God had delayed the event to give people more time to repent. He has now issued a new prediction, saying the Rapture will take place between October 12 and 13, 2026.
According to Mhlakela, his previous calculation was incorrect because the biblical Feast of Trumpets had been observed a month earlier than he believed it should have been.
He also claimed that a vision involving two full moons convinced him that there had been an error in the biblical calendar used for his earlier prediction.
The new claim has again generated reactions online, with some social media users recalling his failed 2025 prediction and questioning the latest date.
Christian leaders and other commentators have also criticized attempts to establish a specific date for the Rapture, citing Matthew 24:36, which states that no one knows the day or hour of Jesus Christ’s return.
Despite the criticism surrounding his previous prediction, Mhlakela maintains that his latest interpretation points to October 12–13, 2026, as the period when the Rapture will occur.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
