Americans inherit a lot of their approach to End Times from their Puritan forbears. The Puritans in turn inherited goals from those whose goals originally led to the Old Testament focus on scriptures found today in the Bible. The main group responsible for this focus was the Pharisees. For the Pharisees, it meant a detailed and rigorous application of the Torah. For the Puritans, it involved a reformist approach to both church practices and societal norms based on their interpretation of the Bible. While American eschatological views are not directly inherited from the Pharisees or the Pharisees influential 90 AD Council of Jamnia, there is an indirect connection through the broader historical and religious context. The Pharisees' emphasis on scriptural authority and interpretation influenced later Jewish thought, which in turn contributed to the development of Christian theological frameworks. Early Christians, including the Church Fathers, engaged with Jewish interpretations of scripture, including eschatological themes, which were later absorbed into Christian thought. Both groups’ emphasis on a strict set of scriptures reflects a broader pattern in religious reform where adherence to a perceived "pure" version of sacred texts is central. For the Pharisees, this involved a strict interpretation of Jewish law, while for the Puritans, it meant rigorous application of biblical teachings as understood by them. While there’s no direct connection between the Pharisees and the Puritans, their shared focus on a strict set of canonical scriptures represents a common thread in religious movements where a return to, or strict adherence to, foundational texts is a significant feature. This reflects a broader human tendency within religious reform to anchor authority and practice in a revered canon, though the specifics of their scriptures and religious contexts differ significantly. Teachings of Jesus, John the Baptist and Paul relating to the Pharisees should be studied in relation to American End Times beliefs. Seeking to follow on from Puritans has downsides. (Stephen D Green, including some wording from ChatGPT, 2024)
