The concept of the rapture, defined as the sudden taking up or "catching up" of believers to meet Christ, originated from interpretations of the New Testament, especially 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The term "rapture" itself comes from the Latin word "raptura," meaning "seizure" or "carrying off," and is a translation of the Greek verb ἁρπαγησόμεθα (harpagēsometha), meaning "we shall be caught up" or "taken away".
However, the specific doctrine of a secret, pre-tribulation rapture, as it is popularly known today, is a relatively recent theological development. It was systematized and popularized in the early 19th century by John Nelson Darby, a leader of the Plymouth Brethren in Scotland. Darby built upon earlier vague references and incorporated ideas from other sources, such as the Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera's interpretation of biblical prophecy. The secret pre- tribulation rapture became widely known through Darby's teachings and later through popular books like Hal Lindsey’s "The Late, Great Planet Earth" in the 20th century.
In summary, the rapture as a general term has biblical roots in language and some New Testament writings, but the modern concept of a secret pre- tribulation rapture was invented and popularized during the 19th century by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren, spreading extensively in later Christian thought and culture.