Psychotherapist explains why people are convinced today is the Rapture

Christians across the world woke up this morning hoping it would be their last day on Earth after church leaders—and people on TikTok—pushed a theory claiming September 23 is the date of the Rapture. 

The phenomenon, dubbed RaptureTok, has exploded in recent weeks after faith leaders pinpointed today’s date as the starting point for a chain of Biblical events which will bring about the Second Coming of Jesus—and kick off Judgment Day for non-believers.

A variety of scenarios have been suggested, but most believers have been preparing to be sucked into the sky and taken to Heaven, leaving non-Christians and sinners to face the Great Tribulation and a period described as ‘great suffering’. 

The Bible never set a date for this event—which plays out in the final pages of the Holy Book—and Christians have been actively discouraged from attempting to set dates for the Rapture throughout history, but it hasn’t stopped speculation about the End of Days reaching a fever pitch. 

Along with social media videos which have clocked up millions of views, respected pastors and rabbis have been caught up in the frenzy. 

Some have pointed out signs that the Rapture could be nearing, including its aligning with the Jewish Feast of Trumpets and certain star constellations converging, which some interpret as fulfilling biblical prophecies. 

But what causes people to believe so passionately about a hypotherical scenario?

Speaking to the Daily Mail, UKCP accredited psychotherapist and trauma specialist Tina Chummun said that doomsday frenzies often spike at times of uncertainty—it’s because the human brain is wired to look for patterns.

She said: ‘People often get caught up in these belief systems during times of uncertainty because our brain is wired to seek patterns and certainty when life feels uncertain and unpredictable. 

‘Neuroscience shows us that heightened stress and uncertainty increase our amygdala reactivity, making us more susceptible to black-and-white narratives that promise safety, salvation or control. 

‘Doomsday theories thrive on this neurobiological drive and this will test us to the core with our beliefs within ourselves and our social influences.’ 

Ms Chummun added that during times of great uncertainty—which we have seen played out over the past few years in the form of freak weather incidents, wars, and global political instability—people often cling to anything, or anyone, who can offer a sense of safety and stability. 

It can also come about during any sort of societal shift, and she uses the Millennium Bug as a prime example. 

‘In the late 1990s, there were a lot of rumours and theories when all the computer clocks ticked into the new year, the new millennium, in 2000 there would be a huge meltdown and all technology would fail,’ she said. 

‘People were expecting planes to suddenly fall out of the sky and their appliances to blow up or stop working. 

‘When people want reassurance about the unknown, they piggyback on other people who seem to know what’s happening—even though they haven’t stopped to question whether what they’re aligning with is right.’ 

Unlike three decades ago, there are now more ways than ever to be exposed to terrifying doomsday trends and the people who claim they have the answers and escape routes thanks to social media. 

On TikTok where the majority of the Rapture-inspired content is posted, some videos have received tens of thousands of views. 

These include one where a man repeatedly says ‘Jesus is coming’ next to the caption ‘these are the last days’. It has been watched more than 488,000 times. 

If the Rapture doesn’t play out as expected today, and you or someone you love is left disappointed, Ms Chummun offered some useful advice to navigate any uncomfortable feelings.   

‘When a prophecy doesn’t happen, people can experience profound emotional fallout, grief, shame, even identity crises,’ she said. 

‘The psychological need that drove that belief remains. Coping requires gentle processing of disillusionment, re-grounding in supportive relationships, and often re-establishing meaning outside of rigid belief systems.

‘It’s important to make an effort to find peace and fulfilment in your every day life, and ask yourself why you were so desperate to be removed from the Earth in the first place.’