The Sages describe a conversation that took place between Hashem (God) and Ezekiel after the prophet had been exiled to Babylonia. The Lord tells Ezekiel to teach the design of the third Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) to the Children of Israel. Ezekiel answers, “Let it wait until we return to the Land of Israel …we cannot build it here in Babylonia.” Hashem turns to the prophet and responds, “No, teach it to the people now, because when the people study the design of your Beit Hamikdash, I will consider it as if they have already begun to build it.” Today, scholars in Jerusalem are studying the design of the third Temple, and are already building vessels to use in it, including the solid gold menorah prominently displayed at the top of the stairs leading down to the Kotel.
Source: Israel in the News
