Without quoting all of the above responses, thank you for taking the time to break it down. I do believe we will be taken to Mount Zion, which God has revealed to me is both here on earth but contains a hidden realm that we are unable to see with our human eyes. It is there that we will be trained and sent out. There are many scriptures that pertain to going to Mount Zion (144,000 are taken there as mentioned in Book of Revelation but MANY other references in the Old Testament as well).

The pre-trib rapture doesn't necessarily mean we go to heaven, it means we are taken out of harms way which can be to Mount Zion. In any case, those around the ones taken will not know where they have been taken to so in that sense, it is not protection where they stand, it is a physical taking away BEFORE all these things come to pass. Remember, Noah was shut into the Ark before the rains came. To those standing around, it was a perfectly normal day...
pre-trib!