If you are reading this article, you might have missed the rapture—at least according to TikTok.
The rapture, often associated with a theological framework called dispensationalism, is the belief that Jesus Christ will return secretly to remove his followers from the earth.
The doctrine, which is distinct from the belief in Christ’s second coming, has not been held by most Christian traditions throughout the church’s history. Nevertheless, it has captured the imagination of many evangelicals—in no small part due to the cultural influence of works of Christian fiction, including the film “A Thief in the Night” and the book and film series “Left Behind.”
RELATED: Is the Rapture Really in the Bible? Why Skye Jethani Says, ‘No’
In June, South African Pastor Joshua Mhlakela predicted that the rapture would take place on Sept. 23-24. Mhlakela argued that during this two-day span, Jesus would remove his true followers from the earth and initiate a “seven-years tribulation on earth for those left behind.”
At the time of this writing, the rapture has apparently still not occurred.
However, as Mhlakela’s prediction began to approach, creators on TikTok began urging their followers to repent before it was too late, leading to a trend that is now being referred to as “RaptureTok.”
Some TikTok users offered tips for preparing the rapture, including leaving behind material to explain to unbelieving loved ones what happened and ensuring that you are not wearing any “demonic” designer clothing that cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
While many appeared sincere in their belief that the rapture would occur as predicted, others have poked fun at the notion. Some have joked that Jesus did come but was intercepted by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One user joked that perhaps the reason Christians are still present on earth is because “they’re gonna do it in batches.”
RELATED: Pastor Greg Laurie: ‘The Second Coming Is Different From the Rapture’
On Tuesday, Christian comedian Shama Mrema posted a clip from a previous standup set in which he said, “I’m afraid of the rapture because I watched that one movie, ‘Left Behind.’ Y’all remember that? Y’all remember that horror movie, ‘Left Behind’?”
View this post on Instagram
