Hey Seeker...I grew up Methodist also, and never heard anything about the Rapture...but I believe in it...My belief is that there is heaven where we go when we leave this earth...I believe that Jesus went to Paradise, which was the first resting place, before His resurrection...Once he was resurrected into heaven to sit on a throne on the right side of the Father, then man went into heaven...While Jesus was here he said that he was going to heaven to prepare a place for us, where there are many mansions...for me, if he has spent thousands of years preparing that place then it is awesome...in my belief, righteous men who died could not go into heaven until the final sacrifice was made, and that was accomplished when Jesus died on the cross, and was raised on the 3rd day...I believe he is was no longer separated from the father(due to our sin)and once he was resurrected, and neither are we...as for the rapture, I was very skeptical, with all of the pre-trib, post-trib stuff, but then read a really good book about the rapture, and it changed my view of it...It gives me hope...because I trust that God is in control, and my faith in the one who gives me life, abundant life, is mighty and great...I really respect so very much how you are inquisitive about the whole rapture thing...that is what opened the door for me to learn more...take gentle care...