The traditions go back further to the early days of the reformation. In fact, I see  hardcore evangelicals as a marriage of populist religious enthusiasm and millenarianism. Both of those, often combined, have seemed to come along on a regular basis in all the Abrahamic religions, whether we're talking Christians in the Byzantine empire, Jews in eighteenth century Poland, or present day Iraqis and US fundies. Or, seeing as we're talking religion here, perhaps I should put it this way:

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.