Religious believers think the rapture is coming — and they’re asking if their dogs can come too
A South African pastor’s vision that Jesus will return to Earth this week and bring Christian believers to heaven, also known as the rapture, has sent social media into a frenzy, with many worried about what will happen to their fur babies should the prediction come true.
“The rapture is upon us, whether you are ready or not,” pastor Joshua Mhlakela said in an interview with CettwinzTV.
Specifically, the pastor claims Jesus told him in his dream that he will come on Sept. 23 and 24, which happen to be the dates of this year’s Rosh Hashanah, which is the New Year in Judaism.
If you’re unfamiliar, the rapture in Christianity is the belief that good Christ-loving folks of Earth — both living and dead — will ascend to heaven with Jesus Christ.
People have taken this belief and run with it on social media, which has started the trend of #RaptureTok.
In the hundreds of videos with that tag on TikTok, you’ll discover everything from rapture tips to people wondering if they can take their dogs with them if they’re the chosen ones.
One woman’s video with over 200,000 views is making light of it all by referencing another jokester’s videos on the topic. “He’s a riot, he’s making this whole journey so fun.”
She went on to explain that in one of his videos, he mentions how there’s an angel assigned to each person when they get raptured. “He’s like, ‘I wonder if our pets get raptured too.’ He goes, ‘Could you imagine the angel that’s assigned the one little Chihuahua? They’re going up 1,000 miles per hour,'” she said, giggling.
But the topic of dogs — and pets in general — being involved in the rapture is one that many are concerned but hopeful about.
“I ask God all the time to please take my dogs when we’re raptured,” someone wrote in the comment section of that video.
“I have prayed for my fur babies to be raptured with me,” agreed someone else.
“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.’ My household includes my fur babies,” a hopeful commenter wrote, quoting scripture.
While there are plenty of serious videos on the topic, of course, there are many skeptics making light of the situation, dogs aside.
One video posted under #RaptureTok showed two people hysterically laughing with overlay text that read: “I am so petty I am going to lay out a couple of outfits in my driveway on sept 24th so when my neighbor walks his dog he he will think me and my dog made it to heaven for the rapture and they didn’t.”
Another person amusingly showed how he’ll act on rapture day, grabbing his dog and motioning his hands for God to take them.