INFLUENTIAL pastor John MacArthur has died at the age of 86 after a battle with pneumonia. 

He died in Santa Clarita, California, on Monday.

Fears for his health grew after he was hospitalized, with his local congregation asking for prayers.

A post was shared on the X account belonging to MacArthur’s teaching ministry, Grace to You.

“Our hearts are heavy, yet rejoicing, as we share the news that our beloved pastor and teacher John MacArthur has entered into the presence of the Savior.”

“This evening, his faith became sight. He faithfully endured until his race was run.”

MacArthur had preached more than 3,000 sermons during his career, but attracted attention when he challenged California Governor Gavin Newsom’s orders during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He had faced numerous health battles in the years before his death.

In 2023, he was left suffering from breathing difficulties after reading a sermon.

He has also gone under the knife for heart surgeries and underwent a lung procedure.

MacArthur had been dealing with kidney, heart and lung setbacks in the months before his death.

His team admitted that his recovery was slower than expected.

MacArthur, who was the associate pastor at Grace Community Church, revealed he was on his last lap in March and appeared frail in a video shared online.

He continued to host in-person church services in spite of Newsom’s order.

He also wrote books during his career and these have been translated into 40 different languages.

MacArthur revealed that he had always believed in God ever since he was a child.

“I think I’m one of those kinds – I was one of those kids that never rebelled and always believed,” he said in a February 2004 interview.

He recalled how he used to listen to his granddad preach.

“He died when I was about ten, but I heard him preach numbers of times before he died.”

MacArthur spoke fondly about his grandfather’s preaching style.

“He was more of a – sort of a textual preacher,” he said.

“He would give text, and then he would tell some stories, and he liked to read a poem.

“He was very evangelistic, a little bit of a different style.”

MacArthur described his grandfather as a “relentless” preacher and said he would share the Gospel – not just in church.

MacArthur’s grandma’s dad was also a pastor, and his father was also a clergyman.