Musician Danie Botha apologises for false rapture prediction that sparked social media frenzy

Gospel singer and preacher Danie Botha has apologised for his claims about the timing of the biblical rapture.

The apology follows a week of social media discussions that have gone viral, where people debated predictions about the end-times event.

Many social media users reacted with a mix of concern and humour as predictions spread online.

The conversation began with South African self-styled messenger Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed the rapture would occur on Tuesday or Wednesday, September 23 and 24.

Mhlakela shared his prediction during an interview on the YouTube channel CettwinzTV, saying he had received a vision. “I saw Jesus sitting on His throne,” Mhlakela said, “and I heard the words: ‘I am coming soon. I will come back to Earth.’” 

He emphasised that the rapture - a Christian belief that at an unknown future moment, Jesus Christ will return to take believers, both living and dead, out of the world - was imminent.

The date Mhlakela predicted passed without incident. Yet some messengers continued to insist the event was approaching.

Mahlatse Letoka, a religious commentator, wrote: “Please note that the Notes on the Gospel of Jesus Christ book is not about the date of the rapture at all. The rapture is still very much approaching, and let us be grateful for the delay, as it’s an opportunity to keep preparing. God is faithful.”

Botha also joined in the predictions. The singer-turned-preacher announced that the rapture would occur on September 23 or 24. Botha said he received the date through the Holy Spirit.

“I walked into my TV room and switched my TV on to watch YouTube,” he said. “Big golden letters appeared in front of me, which said: ‘Flight 923. You must be ready to depart.’”

Only days after making the claim with “no doubts”, Botha admitted that he had been wrong. In a Facebook Live broadcast, he addressed the public directly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be here to talk to you. At the heart of the matter, I am very sorry that this took place. I seem to have jumped off. I am very sorry that this took place, but I am grateful that I am still built on the rock. Jesus Christ, our King and Saviour,” Botha said.

He continued: “If I have caused any harm to anyone, emotionally, in any way, if I have pulled anyone from the faith, then I would like to say from the bottom of my heart to the Lord, I am very sorry. The good that I said, what I heard from the Lord, I heard justly from the Lord. I cannot deny that."

"I heard this trumpet; it was tied to it. And I heard him say, we are going to start the persecution. Where I made a mistake is to put the date on it because I prayed, the execution must be before the persecution. 2 Thessalonians 2 says, just until that which keeps the dog out of the way, then the unjust will be revealed. And I stand guilty that I had a date that did not come out.”

Botha defended his broader message, insisting that he is not a false prophet.

“Am I a false prophet? No. Because I lead people to Jesus. False prophets take people away from the Lord. They do not bring them to the Lord. What I did was lead people to the Lord. I bring people to the Lord,” he said. 

He closed with a reminder for believers to remain vigilant. “I want to, before I close, I want to say this again to you. The time is here,” he added.