In mid-September 2021, social media users were taken aback by a photograph of a billboard containing a Bible quote that appeared to compare former US President Donald Trump to Jesus, the central figure of the Christian religion.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the billboard was on Highway 27 in the town of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, but was removed on September 13, 2021. It contained part of a prophetic Bible verse. from the book of Isaiah. , and a photo of Trump, leading some to conclude that the billboard compared Trump to a deity, if not Jesus.
An image of the billboard was posted to Twitter by Washington Post reporter Eugene Scott:
Wow pic.twitter.com/MKyzsU6ZGk
– Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) September 13, 2021
Although the sign reads “Romans 8:17” at the bottom right, the verse is actually the first part of Isaiah 9: 6. Isaiah 9: 6 in its entirety, in the King James version:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will rest on its shoulder; and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of peace. “
The verse is familiar, and as Clint Cooper, editor of the Free Times Press, noted, “Christians and Bible scholars believe the words prophesy of the coming of Jesus Christ.” In fact, as Cooper again pointed out, the verse is the refrain of Handel’s “Messiah”.
Romans 8:17 says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if it is so that we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified together.
We’ve reached out to Reagan, the billboard company listed at the bottom of the panel, asking why it was deleted, and we’ll update if we receive a response. Cooper reached out to Reagan’s chief executive Scott Hibberts, who told him the company was not revealing the identities of customers.
