The Calculation of Mechirat Yosef

See here for the full ma'amar from the Zohar Chadash.

And when they were finished, the sin of Sinat Chinam caused (punishment), that the first Sinat Chinam was awakened, and that is what is written "and they hated him", that tsaddik. And then HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave them in to the hands of one that hates them with Sinat Chinam, that is what is written of Edom "Because you have had a hatred of old, and you have thrown the children of Israel by a sword" (Yehezkel 35).

And then it was taken from them, by way of the number of years, that they were lacking in the secret of 7 for your sins. Come and see, that when you count 22 years 7 times, for each of the 10 that sold him, you will find 1540. And then the Geulah of Yisrael will be aroused, like the morning that starts to light up little by little, until 17 years, that that Tsaddik arose to the level of Good (טו"ב, gematria 17). That is what is written: "Yosef is 17 years old and would shepherd with his brothers" (Breishit 37). Because then he will be able to stand in the breach, before Midat HaDin, for the sins of the world will have been completed (perhaps sins of the world should be translated as eternal sins), and then "And Beit Yaakov will be a fire, and Beit Yosef for a flame, and Esav for straw, and they will light up in him and consume them." (Ovadyah 1)

In my humble opinion, it appears to me that the explanation is as follows:

• The sin of Sinat Chinam at the end of the 2nd Temple era aroused Sinat Chinam from the side of Esav, i.e. Rome, in the year 3826.
• From this time, the punishment of Galut was for the Sin of Mechirat Yosef, and some time during the following 1540 years, a tikkun was required to prevent destruction from Midat HaDin.  This tikkun, thankfully, was achieved.
• Another 17 "years" after these 1540 years brought the birth of the Vilna Gaon, who, like others before him, was Moshiach ben Yosef.  The difference, however, is that he was able to work towards Kibbutz Galuyot through his teachings, and indeed his disciples brought new life to the settlement in Eretz Yisrael.  Prior to this time, Moshiach ben Yosef had mainly been involved in protection of Am Yisrael and the revelation of the secrets of Torah.  From here on out, the Eretz Yisrael side enters the equation, Kibbutz Galuyot, Binyan Yerushalayim, etc.  This is the offensive side war, where Yosef becomes a flame.