Verses Lv09-01:04 discussing the sacrifices brought on the day of the consecration of the Temple states
• And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And he said to Aaron, Take
  • a young calf ...
  • and a ram ... and offer them before the Lord. And to the people of Israel you shall speak, saying,
  • Take a kid ...
  • and a calf and
  • a lamb, ...
  • Also a bull and
  • a ram ... to sacrifice before the Lord;
  • and a meal offering mixed with oil;
• for today the Lord will appear to you.
Rashi commenting on this structure states All these animals were brought as fire sacrifices for the purpose of facilitating prophetic fire visions. In other words the purpose of sacrifices being brought is so that their fire-rich symbolism will facilitate prophetic fire visions.

Here is another way of looking at this. Prophecy was a frequent theme in the Bible. We frequently find that people who yearned for prophetic communication would first offer sacrifices. For example when the wicked Bilam was asked to prophesy on Israel he prepared himself for the prophetic fire visions by offering sacrifices on the fire (Nu23-01:04). What Rashi is explaining to us is why people brought sacrifices - people brought sacrifices in the hope of achieving prophetic inspiration. The main reason we want the restoration of sacrifices in the Messianic era is to renew prophecy.

This idea is further elaborated in my article http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm. Popular knowledge on sacrifices shows that people corrupted the idea of sacrifices; they brought sacrifices but committed crimes like adultery and murder. My opinion is that prophesy was still alive during this period but that the prophetic visions dealt with the national sins and urged people to be ethical. That is I contend that the ethical prophets arose not because civilization advanced but rather because people ethically sinned and therefore the prophecies of their time addressed ethical questions.

By studying the sacrifices we learn everything we need to know about personality, spiritual growth, and personal development. Those who excel advance to become prophets while those who don't reach the prophetic level at least reach the level of spiritual growth.