Happy Thursday. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you didn’t get raptured. Happy for you or sorry that happened! 

We have a follow-up on RaptureTok, unauthorized and unapproved likenesses on the DHS’ “memes,” notes on cuffing season, and more. Subscribe to the Yapper tier to read the full newsletter. 

There are sentences never before uttered in human history. You may recall our brief recap of RaptureTok on Monday. During the so-called rapture window (Sept.  23 and 24), I saw some follow-up videos from some of the most vocal believers on TikTok. Several said that they would make an apology video if the event did not come. 

Tilahun Desalegn, who went viral for selling his car in preparation for the rapture, posted a nearly 10-minute apology video on TikTok for saying it would happen this week. He still believes it will happen and that we are in the “end times” (OK, I could be convinced of that latter point). Desalegn said being wrong “happens often” to rapture watchers. However, he was still remorseful about sharing incorrect information.

“I want to publicly apologize to everyone that I convinced to get their hopes up high about the rapture happening September 23rd and 24th,” he said. “It obviously didn’t happen and there must be people out there who are very disappointed.”

Another person, a mother named Briana, had claimed that her children had received messages and dreams about the rapture. She also said that she would apologize for “being deceived” if it didn’t happen. Instead, she has seemingly deleted her page.

There are a couple things I wanted to point out. Starting with Desalegn’s apology video: 1) He said he was seeing signs everywhere, particularly through license plates and 2) He said he operates in extremes in all aspects of life. Similarly, Briana had been looking for signs, particularly through her kids, and had apparently lost her husband recently. 

We can all fall into spirituality during turbulent, difficult times. I certainly have. It can be a salve for life’s troubles, which is not a bad thing if one is discerning. It’s easy to get caught in the belief that we will be saved by some force of the universe when things are bleak — which they are for a lot of people right now. Sometimes, it makes you see signs when there aren’t any. I mostly feel bad for those who sold their cars, homes, and belongings. Some even quit their jobs. 

I don’t feel so bad for the pastor who popularized this most recent Sept. 23 and 24 window. Some outlets reported that he was embarrassed after rapture time lapsed during a now-deleted livestream, although it doesn’t appear that he has apologized himself.

Rapture claims come and go often. I saw a few progressive pastors discuss the origins of rapture fears, particularly how they were born out of conversion fearmongering tactics and escapism. One video from Reverend Gerlyn Henry was particularly compassionate. When we are in an era ruled by fear, it is not surprising to see something like RaptureTok pop up. However, when the illusion is shattered, it is worth checking in on the wellbeings of those who believed it.