In one of his talks devoted to the revelation of Moshiach, the Rebbe points out that the revelation can happen very rapidly, so fast in fact that all of us can find ourselves in the Third Temple in a matter of minutes where Kohanim will immediately begin carrying out their responsibilities.

The basis for this statement is a Jewish law that forbids Kohanim to drink wine even nowadays due to the fear of inebriation since someone who is drunk is forbidden to serve in the Temple.

In connection with this, the Rebbe asks the question – “But aren’t 24 minutes enough, according to Jewish Law, to sober up from wine intoxication and if that’s the case, why can’t the Kohanim drink wine? Since even if a Kohen does get drunk, he will be sober and ready to serve in the Temple 24 minutes later?”

But the issue is that according to the prohibition, the Third Temple can come down, fully built in all of its splendor, before the 24 minutes and then the drunken Kohen won’t have the time to get sober. So based on that, even nowadays, a Kohen is forbidden to drink wine.

“From this, the Rebbe, King Moshiach, points out, we see that when we calculate time until the construction of the Third Temple, we need to keep in mind that the Temple can descend in a matter of minutes!”