From Above and From Below

The era of the Temple was an era of "dew." G-dliness was manifest from Above as an expression of His kindness. Miracles took place in the Temple even when the Jews acted decadently and rebelled against G-d. The era of exile, by contrast, is character-ized by concealment and any awareness of G-d which we are granted is attained by our hard work in refining ourselves and our surroundings. On the other hand, precisely this approach is what will bring the ultimate revelations that will characterize the era of Moshiach. Like rain which comes as a result of vapor (from below), those revelations will be brought about by our efforts (working from below) in this era of exile.