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The World Will Be Destroyed': Failed Doomsday Preacher Harold Camping Has Died
Televangelist Harold Camping died on Sunday (Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

The World Will Be Destroyed': Failed Doomsday Preacher Harold Camping Has Died

"God is the one who knows our appointed time to leave our earthly body behind."

Harold Camping, the televangelist and self-professed prophet who captured global attention two years ago when he claimed that the world would come to a chaotic end on May 21, 2011, died Sunday. He was 92.

Televangelist and doomsday preacher Harold Camping died Sunday (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Family Radio Network, a Christian media company Camping co-founded, released a statement about his death Monday.

"On Saturday, November 30th, Mr. Camping sustained a fall in his home, and he was not able to recover from his injuries. He passed away peacefully in his home, with his family at his side," the statement read.

It continued, "We know that each of us remain in God’s hand, and God is the one who knows our appointed time to leave our earthly body behind."

The release went on to note that the company is grateful for Camping's "dedication" and his "lifetime service to God."

Camping's failed doomsday predictions led his followers to sell their possessions in anticipation of the world's impending end -- an event that never unfolded.

After Camping's initial May 21 prediction didn't come to pass, he changed the doomsday date to Oct. 21, 2011.

"We're not changing a date at all; we’re just learning that we have to be a little more spiritual about this," he said at the time. "But on Oct. 21, the world will be destroyed. It won’t be five months of destruction. It will come at once."

Camping later offered an apology of sorts after the second prediction fell through, and said he had no further predictions to make.

The televangelist had previously predicted Jesus' return in 1994 as well, though his latter efforts garnered more attention, as Religion News Service reported.

As TheBlaze noted earlier this year, the Family Radio Network has faced some challenges since Camping's 2011 predictions didn't come to pass.

The Contra Costa Times reported in May that the Oakland-based company has sold its three largest radio stations and laid off longtime staff members. And here’s why: Tax records show Harold Camping’s nonprofit network saw its net assets drop to $29.2 million by the end of 2011, from a net worth of $135 million four years earlier.

Former and current insiders told the newspaper donations have dropped almost 70 percent since Camping’s Rapture prediction proved incorrect. It is unclear how Family Radio Network will be run following the evangelist's death.

Camping is survived by Shirley Camping, his wife of 71 years.

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