The thing that sets me off about religious guys is that they totally ignore history.
In the case of the messiah, the whole concept fails if the earth wasn't created in six days. So however comforting the idea of a redeemer is, it just doesn't work on any kind of rational basis in Judaism.
I've been reading - The Gaon of Vilna and His Messianic Vision by Dr. Arie Morgenstern
http://www.amazon.com/Gaon-Vilna-His-Me ... n+of+vilna
He discusses Jewish activity in Palestine in the 18th century.
There was
Lurianic_Kabbalah end of the 16th century, followed not too coincidentally by
Sabbatai_Zevi in the 17th which was catastrophic. In the 18th they figured the Messiah was coming between 1740 and 1781 because of the Messianic Clock. Of course, it turns out they were a little optimistic, but we know for sure that the Messiah will arrive by the Jewish Year 6000.
200-Year-Old “Messiah Clock” Sets Last Possible Date for Final Redemption - and the Timing Will Surprise You!
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/46995 ... xjcfhcO.99
The main idea here is
For in Your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that has past, like a watch of the night.
(Psa 90:4 TNK)
So 6000 years are six days which means that the messiah has to show up on the seventh (Shabbat).
However the messiah might come early -
The smallest shall become a clan; The least, a mighty nation. I the LORD will speed it in due time. (Isa 60:22 TNK)
Even though we know that the messiah must come by 6000, his arrival can be hastened. Figuring that each millenium is one day, that means that the first 500 years is night followed by 500 years of day. 5500 is therefore daybreak on Friday and 6000 is nighttime on Shabbat.
An hour by this reckoning is 83 1/3 years. I think this might be credited to Immanuel Hai Ricchi -
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/artic ... en-abraham
So they figured the Messiah would show up a little after that, hence 1740-1781.
According to the Zohar, the second temple was destroyed when "the shadows of the evening tilted." This apparently happens a little after midday, like about 12:30. Gets a little confusing but that is why they came up with the 40 year period starting a little after 1739.
Currently, based on the time of the Messiah clock, the year 6000 will occur in 2239 of the Gregorian calendar, indicating that the Messiah must arrive before then.
Why the link says this is a surprise is not clear, I can imagine the timing might surprise many gentiles and even some Jews, but that is really Kabbalah 100 for those not advanced enough to take 101.
Anyway the deadline will expire in a couple of hundred years.
I don't think this has anything in common with Christianity (of course, depending on how you look at it). The only saving grace to all this psychotic drivel is that the history is interesting; fascinating even. However that's the one topic the shmuck is not interested in discussing.