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December 17th, 2013
01:43 PM ET
Radio preacher who predicted doomsday dies(CNN) - The broadcast preacher who predicted the world would end in 2011 and spread his doomsday message through billboards and RV caravans has died, according to a statement from his Family Radio network. Harold Camping died Sunday afternoon after suffering a fall in his home on November 30, the statement said. He had suffered a stroke in June 2011, a few weeks after his doomsday date came and went. He died at age 92, an operator at Family Radio said. "He passed away peacefully in his home, with his family at his side," the statement said. Camping is survived by his wife of 71 years, Shirley. For months in early 2011, Camping predicted that Jesus Christ would return to the earth on May 21 that year, and that a select 2% to 3% of the world’s population would be raptured, or taken to heaven. Those left behind would face months of tribulation before perishing in the Earth's destruction, which Camping said would happen on October 21, 2011. MORE ON CNN: Road trip to the end of the world When his May 21 prediction failed to pan out, Camping took the radio airwaves to say that he had misinterpreted the nature of the rapture but that the world would still end on October 21. The following year, Camping admitted he was wrong and said he was getting out of the forecasting business. "We humbly acknowledge we were wrong," Camping and his staff members wrote in a letter to supporters posted on Family Radio's website in March 2012. "We must also openly acknowledge that we have no new evidence pointing to another date for the end of the world. Though many dates are circulating, Family Radio has no interest in even considering another date." Camping founded Family Radio, a nonprofit Christian radio network with about 65 stations across the country, in 1958. It received $80 million in contributions between 2005 and 2009. He first inaccurately predicted the world would end in 1994. Despite his poor track record, he had gathered many followers. Some gave up their homes, entire life savings and jobs because they believed the world was ending.
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Repent, repent – the end is near. Well, it's nearer than it was yesterday. On the other hand, how about "live until you die."
C'est la vie en rose!
too bad he'll miss doomsday..
I didn't see that one coming.
Condolences to the family.
He made quite a living proving that P. T. Barnum was right when he didn't really say that famous quote.
Well, looks like his prediction after all came true. 2013 was it! Bye now, while the rest of us survive, your doomsday is here!
Uh, where did the "journalists" get their education. He didn't predict anything.
Camping patiently explained how he reached his conclusion for May 21, 2011. "Christ hung on the cross April 1, 33 A.D.," he began. "Now go to April 1 of 2011 A.D., and that's 1,978 years." Camping then multiplied 1,978 by 365.2422 days – the number of days in each solar year, not to be confused with a calendar year. Next, Camping noted that April 1 to May 21 encompasses 51 days. Add 51 to the sum of previous multiplication total, and it equals 722,500. Camping realized that (5 x 10 x 17) x (5 x 10 x 17) = 722,500. Or put into words: (Atonement x Completeness x Heaven), squared. "Five times 10 times 17 is telling you a story," Camping said. "It's the story from the time Christ made payment for your sins until you're completely saved. "I tell ya, I just about fell off my chair when I realized that," Camping said.
LOL, I don't think God really bases things on math.
Yes he did. The fact that he was wrong (or perhaps just running a con), does not mean it was not a prediction. Nothing int he definition of prediction requires that something be accurate to be called a prediction.
'Harold Camping died Sunday afternoon after suffering a fall in his home'
Yep, he had fallen and couldn't get taken up.
So the report is that he died as a result of a fall in his home; yet his family is saying he died peacefully. The sweet irony...
...In any case, there are very few people I don't mourn for - and this loon is one of them. Sorry, but I just cannot express any sympathies for his passing. There are certain people in this world who just need to go so to make room for the more intellectually inclined. The man caused plenty of people who are susceptible to believing anything pain in the midst of his predictions. People like him - frauds; they are the vilest things on the planet. If Camping truly believed in anything he preached, then he should have died realizing the eighth circle of Hell is an especial place for people like him.
Let me guess...you have a "coexist" bummper sticker on your car?
Well, he was right.. the world did end.. for him.
He once said, "satan is a greattttt theologian" . The man ruined a great many lives though anyone who followed him only have themselves to blame.
Unlike this guy, Jesus knew when he'd die and told them ahead of time. Jesus died for our sins, he willingly went to his death to pay for those that would believe him, repent and do the will of God. And Jesus rose again too, and they saw him. Jesus is my hero and he's in the New Testament. Read it.
I did. Now will you read a science book? (A real one, not that intelligent design crap.)
your hero is waiting. go meet him
Or... the people who wrote the gospels after the fact include that bit to indicate that he knew all along. Because, after all, if he HAD to die and was one with god, he HAD to know. If he didn't he wouldn't have been who it was claimed he had to be.
Bazinga!
I wonder if he could tune in Direct TV with those ears.
Let us hope Family Radio dies with its founder. Said non-profit gets low marks at http://pikimal.com/charity/family-radio-2.
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Well, he messed up the date, but he did get it right when he said people were going to die. Should we give him a "half right" credit?
Nobody knows the day or time of the end except God.
Mark 13: 32 = Matt 24: 36 has been rigorously analyzed for historic authenticity and found to be inauthentic. For example, see http://www.faithfutures.org/JDB/jdb265.html and Professor Gerd Ludemann's analyses in his book Jesus After 2000 Years on pp. 91-93 and pp. 231-232.
I'm sure his heart was in the right place, & I trust God welcomed into Heaven.
RIP, sir.
Brain dead, are you?
I'm sure you won't figure that this con-man did it for the money.
Although I bet he didn't predict the day he was going to die, did he?
Quit being gullible.
People like this are how he made all that money. Gullibility + Magical Thinking = Profit
Yeah, well, as Archie Bunker once said to Edith: "Your heart was in the right place...but your brains were out to lunch."
I trust he went to heaven only to be shown by god how wrong he was and how much emotional suffering he caused many people with his lies. Mr. Camping, if you're reading this from heaven, I have a question for you. How does it feel to be caught red handed by god?
"Shirley, I predict I'm going to fall and die now."
Yes you are, and stop calling me Shirley