Could someone explain to me where in the Bible that this event is explained?

I've seen a verse here and there that sort of hint at it.... but nothing as conclusive and explicit as how people seem to describe the rapture....

I could give you multiple scriptures, but here is a link http://backtobasicsradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145&Itemid=170 for a short book that I have. If you scroll down it's called "Caught Up!"

If anyone else is interested, this an E-Book free to read online.

Here's a link from GotQuestions.org
http://www.gotquestions.org/rapture.html

Basically, they listed out 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 as primary verses.

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:50-54)

An interesting note from the book I suggested: the word rapture isn't in the Bible. The Latin word "rapiemur" is the Latin translation of the Greek word "harpazo" which is translated into English in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as "caught up". So from "rapiemur" we have coined the term "Rapture".

I hear ya when you say it isn't explicit, but unfortunately that's the way a lot of things are when foretold in the bible. All you can really do is speculate what is meant on such verses.

Well to sum up the book I linked in this thread, the Rapture refers to what Jesus spoke of when He said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3). One of the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith is that Jesus is going to some day take His church (body of believers) from this world and into His presence to be with Him for the rest of eternity. The Bible describes this as an instantaneous event in which there is no given time or date.

I'm not going to water it down, if you're left behind during this Rapture the Bible, in the book of Revelation, describes this time as the Great Tribulation in which there will be cataclysmic events of God's wrath being poured out on mankind. Based on Zechariah 13:8-9, 2/3 of the earth's population will be killed during this time. But the Bible states that a great multitude of people will also be saved during this time. The the faith of the Christian is to escape this Tribulation by the Rapture. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

..... you honestly believe that John 14:1-3 is talking about the rapture?????

That makes absolutely no sense to me at all how that verse could be interpreted that way. Just because he says you will be there with him doesn't mean that has anything to do with the rapture....

I've never found the doctrine of the rapture to be very well grounded.... the verses that are used are sketchy at best and I can look at and interpret in several different ways without trying too hard.

I'm just not sure why the rapture is even necessary. So what if you die during the "tribulation"? Does that somehow mean you won't go to heaven? The whole doctrine just seems like a nice bed time story to tell ourselves so we don't have to be afraid of the coming apocalypse.

Notice that Jesus said, "I will come again." Acts 1:9-11 tells us the account of when Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection: Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Now together with this scripture it all speaks of the Rapture: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52).

"And the dead in Christ will rise first"... I believe that upon death, people either become disembodied spirits similar to angels who have no physical form, or we are given temporary bodies. Either way the deceased believer is awaiting the resurrection of the Rapture. Consequently there are three steps for the believer: this earthly body, a disembodied state after death, or a temporary body, and finally a resurrected body when Christ returns. Either the disembodied state or the temporary body is far better than living in this body because the believer is with Christ. Yet it is short of all the things that God has promised. Well either way it is clear from the scripture that believers immediately go into the presence of Christ upon death, (2 Corinthians 5:1-8) and their glorified body is received at the Rapture.

Two other places in the Bible He speaks of the Rapture. Matthew 24:36-44, Luke 12:36-40: These verses all speak of Jesus coming again to take the church. Specifically, Luke 12:40 sums it all, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." As far as the rest of the rapture doctrine, concisely it means: after the Rapture there will be a 7-year tribulation, then we will return with Jesus to the earth (literally, not in the air) to reign with Him in His kingdom. This is referred to as the Millennial Reign. Well the Bible isn't clear what happens after the 2000 *1000 years, only that we will forever be with Him.

"So what if you die during the "tribulation"? Does that somehow mean you won't go to heaven?" The Bible mentions a Book of Life, And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-15). To answer the question, every born-again Christian has their name written in the Book of Life. If you receive Christ during the Tribulation your name is written in it. As far as going to hell after you die in the Tribulation, that depends if you received Christ during it, and thus have your name written.

* What is the Book of Life?

You know, I think that every Christian interprets it differently. In fact, I know. Which is the truth? We may never know. And I don't want to know either, I just take life as God gives it to me.

For example, I thought there was a religion test today, and I didn't know what to study last night, so I prayed for assistance from God, and the Pastor let us use the bible. =D

Obviously, this has nothing to do with the rapture. But no one really knows what Revelations means, so why try to figure it out? This is how I see it, at least. =D

Robert7 : "But no one really knows what Revelations means, so why try to figure it out?"

But the Book of Revelation has a built-in blessing to those who do try to figure it out .
Revelation 1:3:

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

He says you will be blessed if you read it, you'll be blessed if you hear it, and most importantly, you'll be blessed if you keep the words of this book, obeying what God tells us to do. But remember, also, this book provides a fuller revelation of Jesus Christ Himself. As for the Rapture in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 describe the church age which is now, and chapters 4-22 describe the future events that will take place after the Rapture, or the end of the church age.