THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

Jesus told His disciples, "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 unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3)
Notice that after Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you", He said, "I will come again."  Before He comes, He will be making preparations for us.  If He is making preparations for His return, should we also be making preparations?  If so, did Jesus give us any instructions so we can be actively engaged in this process?
Thankfully, we need look no further than to the scriptures to find out.  The Apostle Paul wrote his son in the faith, Timothy, a letter so he would know how to conduct himself and guide the church he was pastoring.  He writes, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, FOR INSTRUCTION in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17) If we need to know what to do prior to Jesus' second coming, we need only look to what people did prior to His first coming.  
John the Baptist is a sterling example of a man who was sent from God to make preparations for the first coming of Jesus.  Prior to his birth, an angel appeared to his father, Zachariah, proclaiming that Elizabeth his wife would give birth to a son who would "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; TO MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD." (Luke 1:17) John's life would impact the lives of others, preparing them for the coming of Jesus. 
Upon John's birth, the scriptures record that "his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying, And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest; for you shall go before the face of the Lord TO PREPARE HIS WAYS." (Luke 1:67,76)
Notice that God was working through people as He made preparations for Jesus' FIRST COMING. This process began under the Old Covenant as "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (I Peter 1:21) The Old Testament prophets, "moved by the Holy Ghost" prophesied concerning Jesus' first coming.  We see the fulfillment of those prophecies as recorded in the New Testament.  An angel appeared to a young girl, Mary, and told her she would conceive and bring forth a son whose name would be called Jesus.  He would be great, and would be called the Son of the Highest.  Since she was not married, she asked the angel how this would be.  He responded, saying, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..." (Luke 1:35)
The same Holy Spirit that inspired men to prophesy concerning the coming of our Lord also came upon Mary so she would conceive and bring Jesus into the world.  As we noted previously, the same Holy Spirit came upon Zachariah as he prophesied concerning the ministry of his son John.  The Holy Spirit was an integral part of guiding men and women to accomplish the work of God concerning the first coming of Jesus.
The angel that appeared to Zachariah prior to John the Baptist's birth also declared, "For he (John) shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; AND HE SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, EVEN FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB." (Luke 1:15) The same Spirit that empowered the prophets to prophesy concerning Jesus's coming; the same Spirit that empowered Mary to conceive Jesus; the same Spirit that prompted Zachariah to prophesy concerning his son John; is the same Spirit that empowered John the Baptist to fulfill his ministry.  What ministry?  TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD AND PREPARE A PEOPLE FOR HIS COMING!
We have the glorious opportunity to participate in the second coming of Jesus.  The scriptures have been given us for "instruction in righteousness: that we may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works!" (II Timothy 3:16-17)
Working together with God to bring Jesus back is certainly a "good work." God has given us instruction AND AN INVITATION to work together with Him.  He has also given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and enable us to accomplish this task. 
We can look to the life and ministry of John the Baptist as an example to follow.  He came to prepare the way for Jesus' first coming. John was FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST from his mother's womb.  The Holy Spirit was an indispensable part of John's ministry.   The Holy Spirit was an indispensable part of Jesus' ministry.  Luke records that Jesus "full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in (by) the Holy Spirit." (Luke 4:1) Before Jesus's final ascension, He told His disciples to "wait for the promise of the Father" and be baptized (filled) with the Holy Spirit before they commenced with their ministry.  In fulfillment of this promise, Luke records that a few days later "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts. 2:4)
To fully participate in preparing for our Lord's return, we too must be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, "If you then...know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit TO THEM THAT ASK HIM." (Luke 11:13) Won't you ask Him today?  Why wait?  Let's get busy, preparing the way for that glorious day!