Breaking News from the Future: The Rapture Didn’t Happen

How American Evangelicalism Made an Industry Out of the End Times

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To my dear friends in the USA:

I’m several hours ahead of you here in Australia, which means I’m writing to you from the future. And I can assure you: the Rapture has not occurred. The skies are still quiet, people are still going about their business, and no one has floated past my window on the way to meet Jesus in the clouds.

In case you missed it, the country is in a bit of a frenzy. Over the weekend, TikTok filled up with videos warning that the Rapture would take place on September 23 or 24. Some creators urged their followers to keep looking up because at any moment Christians would be lifted into the air to meet Christ. Others gave practical tips, like leaving your phone unlocked so that your unbelieving spouse would still be able to pay bills once you were gone.

Like that’s gonna happen.

If you are not familiar with the term, the Rapture is a belief held by many evangelicals. It describes a sudden moment when all Christians, living and dead, will be taken up into heaven. According to this view, the faithful will escape the world before a long period of disaster and suffering begins for everyone left behind.