“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” ~Matthew 24:36, NRSVUE

There are certain perspectives within Christianity that are baffling to me.  Did you know that there was a prediction about the rapture occurring this week spreading all over the place on social media?  A man in South Africa named Joshua Mhlakela claimed that the rapture would occur on September 23 or 24, 2025.* 

Well, I’m still here, so maybe I’ve been “left behind”?
And if you’re reading this right now, you have too! 
Did you know that the word “rapture” doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible? 
And it wasn’t even developed theologically until the 19th century? 
Don’t get me started. 

A Doomsday preacher named Harold Camping predicted that the rapture would occur on May 21, 2011.  I was working in my office in Lexington and our church secretary sheepishly let me know that there was a woman on the phone worried about the world ending.  This woman said that she needed to talk to a pastor.  It turned out not to be a prank phone call.  I had been on the job for just a few weeks by then, a newly ordained minister trying to figure out how to pastor a church the best I could.

This poor woman was genuinely terrified that the world was going to end.  We spoke on the phone a few days before the supposed Day of Judgment.  We spoke for a while as I reassured her that I was giving no credence to Harold Camping’s doomsday prediction.  I quoted Jesus, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  I told her a literal rapture wasn’t in my belief system.  Though even if it was, Jesus himself said that he didn’t know when it would happen!  She seemed more at ease by the time we got off the phone. 

Reflecting on this experience at the time (and now years later given another rapture prediction making the rounds), I find it frustrating that people spread fear in the name of Jesus. 
On this week when (once again) the rapture did not occur, I remain committed to an extravagantly welcoming, inclusive, loving and compassionate version of Christianity. 
Hoping you do, too.  

Love,
Pastor Lauren

*Luis Andres Henao, “A doomsday prediction about the Rapture is spreading on TikTok,” September 23, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/rapture-end-times-evangelical-christians-tiktok-e7d065520186503a6223ee12df1f02dd

Photo by Josh Mills on Unsplash

Thursday Thoughts 9/25/25