The sages of the generation are the wings of the generation. According to their wisdom, so is the generation's closeness to Hashem, may He be blessed, and its grasp of Him, or the opposite, that is, distance from Him, Heaven forbid. In the future, there will be no need to grasp His Godliness through wisdom, for it will be fulfilled in us:

"Your Teacher shall no longer be hidden behind wings" (Isaiah 30:20).

Sefer HaMidos, Knowledge of God, Part II §9