“That’s Their Own Heaven”: Nigerian Pastor’s Stunt to “Ascend to Heaven” Sparks Online Divide

• A video showing a Nigerian pastor being pulled up through a hole in a church ceiling went viral on X on 6 September 2026
• The pastor wore white robes during the spectacle as congregants raised their hands in celebration below him
• Viewers online were divided, with many spotting the rope and questioning the so-called miracle

A Nigerian pastor made headlines after a video of him appearing to "ascend to heaven" during a church service was shared on X on 6 September 2026.

Dearest Jessica posted the clip with the caption:

"A Nigerian Pastor seen ascending to heaven alive during church service. This is a Miracle."

The footage, which appeared to be recorded inside a church or religious hall, showed the pastor dressed in white robes being lifted upwards towards a hole in the ceiling while members of the congregation surrounded him with raised hands. Once his body disappeared into the opening above, the crowd erupted in applause and celebration.

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For those watching closely, a rope was visible around the pastor's back, pulling him skyward. Because his garment was also white, the rigging was easy to miss at first glance.

A familiar tradition, a dramatic twist

Churches have a long history of staging Bible reenactments to bring scripture to life for their congregations. These performances are widely used to make stories of faith more tangible, particularly for younger or visual learners, and are often tied to key moments in the religious calendar. What set this video apart was how it was executed, and how quickly it divided opinion once it reached a broader audience.

Mzansi and beyond react to the 'miracle'

The video on the X page sparked a wave of responses, ranging from laughter to genuine bewilderment:

@Ekerich2 wrote:

"I just pray, make the rope cut, sha!"

@Omotunde0115 said:

"It's a rehearsal jor..."

@FRAIDEMARTIN pointed out:

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"But he's being hanged in the video..."

@NanaKobina94835 asked:

"Pulling someone from the ceiling makes miracles? Is he still in his house or in heaven now"

@Booihaps wondered:

"Did he come back or has he ascended forever?"

@KaijuMan1990 noted:

"Since when does heaven need rope to pull someone up?"

To which @Trullydearest replied:

"That's their own heaven."

@potterthedj06 delivered perhaps the sharpest observation:

"Elijah had a chariot. This pastor had a rope and a hole in the roof."

Watch the video that has left the internet talking below:

More on church and missionary viral moments

• Briefly News recently reported on church missionaries who got splashed with water during a chaotic outdoor scene in a township street, leaving Mzansi reacting with humour and disbelief.
• An Asian missionary practised her Sesotho phrases on camera ahead of her first-ever church testimony, impressing South Africans with how far she'd come with the language.
• From humble church choir beginnings to chart-topping hits, one musician's journey to stardom shows just how far talent and determination can take you.

Source: Briefly News