we know little of Rapture and Tribulation because the Bible does not MENTION EITHER! man's vivid imagination..a matter, simply of this, and "intricate weaving" of denominational dogma....lots tend to coincide these two ideas with Premillennialism...these 3 are not in the SACRED PAGES...Mark 12:24; 11Thess.2:10-12:books 1&2 of Thess. honestly dissprove such an idea as a Rapture..both were written to discuss 1 Major Point= Jesus Coming Back= only 1 return of the Saviour... if you listen to all the THEOLOGIES of these...you would think Paul said to all the Thessolonians these things NEVER MENTIONED , ANYWHERE in the HOLY SCRIPTURES.... 1) wait patiently for HIS coming 2) HE will come as a theif in the night 3) all HIS should be COMFORTED by HIS return 4)when HE does come, both the godly and ungodly will be dealt with(dead and alive) 5) those who died knowing the Lord shall be joined with the Christians still alive to meet the Lord in the air 6) and at the same time the disobediant will be separated (banished) from the "presence of the Lord and the GLORY of HIS POWER...Acts 24:15;John 5:28-29; 2nd Thess.1:4-10. 7)not 1 word is mentioned about 7 years of RAPTURE for the SAINTS and GREAT TRIBULATION for those remaining on EARTH...concocted of men ,IS NOT A MANDATE FROM HEAVEN!!! there is NO DESTINCTION in Christs coming FOR the saints & HIS coming WITH the saints, as man has DESPERATELY tried to create!!! hope helpful

Some idiot made it up in a bar one night.

The word "rapture" isn't found in Scripture but it is described and taught. For the record, the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" that’s found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. So the rapture doctrine has always been part of the Church. The rapture doctrine as it is taught today is incorrect. Most prophecy teachers have the "Left Behind" mind set of the Rapture. They teach that Jesus' Second Coming will be in two parts. Part one is the secret and silent rapture of all saints from earth just before Antichrist ushers in the Great Tribulation. Part two is the actual and noisy Second Coming. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no two part rapture/second coming. It is no where taught in Scripture. Jesus came once to die for mankind and He will come once more to set up His kingdom. There are "two" comings of Jesus not one, not three, or four. Will this rapture happen "before" the Antichrist and Great Tribulation or "after?" Scripture says "after" the Antichrist is revealed. Notice the following Scriptures. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 "Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." Verse 1 speaks of the coming of our Lord and gathering (rapture) to Him. Verse 2 speaks of not being shaken or troubled as to when Jesus will return. In verse 3, it says specifically let no one "deceive you for that day (Second Coming/Rapture) will not come unless the great apostasy comes "first" and the man of lawlessness is revealed. So, as you can see from those verses, the order of events is the great apostasy begins and the Antichrist is revealed "before" the Second Coming or Rapture, not "after" the Rapture. Jesus will return just before Armaggedon. Revelation 15:16 " Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”

A bunch of whack jobs who think that two thousand years ago, their hero was hung to dry on the cross, miracously came back to life and has been AWOL ever since. He's coming back to get them and take them into Hahaven...any day now...

Well, I see you have several answers, most from a Protestant perspective. I can offer you the Catholic perspective from the Catholic Encylopedia. It's pretty long so I've included the link. As for my opinion, I was never familiar with this term and I grew up Catholic. I'm going to read the information myself. http://www.catholic.com/library/Rapture.asp

I know it has nothing to do with Rap music that's for sure!

The rapture doctrine began in approx 1840. It was based on a dream by a woman named Margaret McDonald. Some references say dream some say vision, some say an utterance. After having this dream she talked to some preachers,namely a John Darby, and they decided that it was a prophetic vision. After having the dream she even stated that it seemed evil and dark, later she did recant that and say the light just hadn't been shined on it yet. - It is not in the Bible.

Thesalonians and something about a little girl is tied into it.