I heard from some people that there is a general hubbub about this medrash and its predictions about mashiach – R’ Amnon Yitzchak says to fill your house with food products and be ready – anybody have information?
Sam4321, even the Ramban tried to mark the date, with the disclaimer that it is only a guess. The purpose of many of these statements are to boost spirits and to give hope that the Geula is near. Barely anyone takes it as the definite date of when Moshiach is going to come.
This is especially the case for pointing out how our Dor fits the bill of Dor Sheben David Ba. If it weren’t a worthy cause Chazal would not have given us hints. And Chazal do give hints as to when to be ????.
more: ” When R’Zeira would see Rabbinim calculating when mashiach will come he would say please don’t delay him,like a brasia: 3 things come when one is not thinking about them ,Mashiach,a metziah,and a scorpion bite”.
R’Shmuel Bar Nachmani said R’Yonaton “Tifach(inflate-afflictions) to people who calculate when mashiach will come, for they say if he doesn’t come on this and this day he will never come,rather wait for him”.