Pastors Apologize after False Rapture Predictions Fail to Materialize
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Several pastors who promoted false rapture predictions have apologized, but the minister at the center of the End Times frenzy remains silent.
The false prophecy originated with South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed Jesus appeared to him and revealed the rapture would occur during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets on Sept. 23-24. The prediction spread widely online and stirred anxiety among both non-Christians and Christians, even though Jesus – in Matthew 24:36 – said no one knows the date of His return.
When the rapture failed to take place on those two dates, Mhlakela appeared on a YouTube livestream and urged patience, saying “the Lord is on his way” – implying the dates may have been slightly off. Mhlakela has since deleted the video, according to Premier Christian News.
Some of his supporters, though, have issued apologies.
“I'm here with all humility to apologize to everyone,” said Nigerian pastor King Salemigwe, who had promoted the false prophecy. “I only believed a man who claimed Jesus told him.”
“I know I've received a lot of attacks from people for claiming that I have seen the date of the rapture in the Bible, according to Haggai 2:18. I want to admit that that was erroneous,” Salemigwe added. “I knew that Scripture was not talking about the rapture, but to me, because I had a date, it sounded like it coincided.”
Salemigwe said he will no longer promote dates but will continue to preach about the Second Coming.
“As I apologize, I am glad that I preached repentance, and I know many have repented,” Salemigwe said. “What I will say to those who have repented is, please stay growing in God, I hereby detach myself from dates henceforth, and I look for His coming at any time.”
Australian evangelist and pastor Tilahun Desalegn issued an apology on TikTok.
“The rapture didn’t happen like I saw it would, and I promised that when it didn't happen by the time that I said it would, that I would upload a video of me publicly apologizing and repenting of my failed prediction,” Desalegn said.
He added, “It's 9:45 a.m. on the 25th of September. The Rapture hasn't happened.”
Jesus said of His return in Matthew 24:43-44: “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/FOTOKITA
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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