What is the Rapture?

Basically, the word Rapture is not used in the Bible, but as a concept, is clearly illustrated. The word "rapture" comes from the Latin word "rapturo," which in turn was a translation of the Greek verb "caught up". The origin of the term as used in eschatology, by way of example:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The English phrase "caught up" as used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is the Greek word ("arpazo" or translit: "Harpazo") which basically means "to seize, carry off by force, claim for one's self eagerly, snatch out or away". This adequately describes as an action of what is anticipated for believers at the time of Jesus' return.

Scriptural understanding of the term

Aside from 1 Thessalonians 4:17, there are other hints at this concept of believers being "caught up" to the clouds:

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:27-31)

Jesus said that the "angels will gather His elect", not only suggesting that believers will be caught up but also including "how" believers will be caught up - the angels of the Lord serving as instruments for catching up, holding onto, (gathering) the elect of Jesus.

Obvious timing

When will this "catching up" occur? The answer is given to us in a couple places:

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout" (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call (Matthew 24:31)

First, what will occur is both a vocal "shout" and audible "trumpet" call, both possibly very loud and obvious, signaling Jesus' return. Then, after the shout and trumpet blast, the gathering, or rapture, will occur.

Specifically, the trumpet being referred to in every case is last trumpet - the 7th trumpet of Revelation 11.

As for the purpose of the rapture - this is also given. Simply, "to meet the Lord".

Since Jesus is returning to Earth, and He is gathering believers to Himself, where will believers be after being raptured?

Answer: on Earth.

The Rapture is not a secretive stealing away. It is a mechanism, or, for lack of a better description, a geographic relocation process.. a gathering of believers to be near Jesus proximally for when His feet land on Earth. When Jesus' feet touch the Earth, His elect will be there with him (Matt 24:31)

In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, {and} all the holy ones with Him! (Zechariah 14:4-5)

For more information on how Jesus' next appearance, or return, is characterized, please see The Immediacy and Finality of Christ's Return