We were married twenty-one years ago by the justice of the peace. Was it wrong?

Questions And Answers – 08/30/64m
QUESTION: We were married twenty-one years ago by the justice of the peace. Was it wrong?ANSWER: Yes, it was wrong for you to do that. Marriage belongs in the house of God.But being that you are married, here’s when you’re really married: you’re married when you vow one to the other, when you promise one another that you’re, that you’ll take one another. The justice of peace could give you license; that’s legal terms of living together as husband and wife without being common law husband and wife. But when you promise this girl and this [girl] – you promise that man that you’ll live true to him, and you take him to be your husband, you’re married then. You remember, I explained that last week, I believe it was. See? When you promise her… See? Even in the old Bible, if a man was betrothed to a maid, and… You know the laws on that. Why, it was just the same as an adultery. Certainly was, when he promised, that was it.Questions And Answers – 08/30/64m

The question was asked the other day, “Was an annulment the same as a divorce?” See? When you ask me those questions, friend, you don’t know what that does to me. I’ve got many friends setting here that’s married two or three times. Did you realize I’m talking to my own son, Billy Paul? Would I spare Billy Paul? No, indeedy. Billy Paul got married to some little girl, and come up, and said, “Daddy, I’m going to get married.”I was washing my car; I said, “Butt your head against the wall,” just kept on washing my car like that. He said, “I’m going to get married.”I said, “Oh, go on,” just kept on like that. He goes around and tells his mother, and his mother laughed at him. You know what he done? Run off with some little kid still in common school and got married. We annulled the wedding, the father of this girl and myself. We annulled the wedding, but he was married just the same. He’s my boy setting here listening at me now. That’s exactly.He come to me with the girl that he lives with now, my daughter-in-law. He said, “Daddy will you marry me?” I said, “By no means.” 

That’s my own son. You think that don’t cut me to the core when I packed him in my arms and done everything I could do, and I’ve been both father and mother to him? You think that don’t kill me to say that? But it’s the truth. Certainly. My boy setting here listening… My daughter-in-law and my little grandson setting right here now… But I tell him it’s wrong (See?), because I’ve got to.I’m duty bound to that Word.Editor’s note: I have been given to understand – perhaps through Brother Billy Paul Branham’s own testimony – that, after preaching on “Marriage And Divorce”, Bro. Branham walked off the platform and the first one he met was his son, Billy Paul. Looking into his son’s eyes, he said, “Son, Don’t ever forget the mercy of God to you.” Brother Branham would not compromise on the Truth – not even for his own son.Questions And Answers – 08/30/64m

And I say, you got married by a magistrate? You should’ve been married by the church, by the minister. That’s the decent thing to do for a Christian. But being that you have already made that promise, and vow, and been married twenty-one years ago, I think it’s all right. The question might be, “Should I come and be married again?” If you wish to. Don’t have nothing in your mind that bothers your faith, because if anything’s there, you can’t go no further than right there; you stop right there. When that question mark come, that’s where you end, right there. But I, for me it would be all right. The man that baptized me in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ finally run me out of the church, because I wouldn’t agree with him on women preachers. That didn’t make me be rebaptized again. See? Surely not. See? That’s all right.Editor’s note: Brother Branham certainly DID NOT agree with being married by a Magistrate or Justice of the Peace. In the above statement he says that it is “indecent” for Christians to be married in that way. When asked the question; “Was it wrong to get married by a Justice of the Peace?”, he clearly stated “YES, IT WAS WRONG For You To Do That.”Questions And Answers – 08/30/64m

But just remember, these things are cutting to me. I got bosom friends setting here, men and women that would pull their eye out and give it to me if I’d ask them for it (Yes, sir.), and they’re married twice, sometimes three times, setting right here now. And my own boy, my own grandson, my daughter-in-law that I love… Look at Billy, how I stood by him and how he stood by me, but to say truth or truth, it’s truth’s truth.I could go out here today and call up some of these Assemblies of God or some of these people and tell them, “I was all wrong; I ain’t going to stay with that Word, I’m going to stay with you.” I’d probably be a very popular person pretty soon with a gift of God. To throw all my influence to one of those organizations, I’d probably have a big name among them. I ain’t caring about my name among them. I love them; that’s the truth. But I got to be truthful. I’d be a hypocrite if I did that.Questions And Answers – 08/30/64m

And I’d be a hypocrite if I stood here because my own son setting here that was promised to a girl, and I said… If he never even had the ceremony said over him, no matter if he ever lived with the woman, or slept with her, the girl, or whatever it was, when he made that vow, he’s married, Billy Paul or no Billy Paul. That’s exactly the truth. He’s married when he made that promise. If it’s me, it’s the same. We’ve got to be honest. If I can’t be honest with my boy, I can’t be honest with you. If I ain’t honest with you, I won’t be honest with God. And I want you to believe what I tell you to be my honest-to-goodness opinion. Don’t make anything else out of it; just say it the way I said it (See?), ’cause I’m going to tell you the truth.(Editor’s note: Brother Branham wasn’t quick to give Bro. George Smith consent to “engage” Sister Rebekah; and when he did consent to an “engagement” he told Bro. George, “Don’t even think about marriage till you got the Holy Ghost”. Remember, don’t assume a young man or woman got the Holy Ghost, just because they’re professing to follow the Message of Malachi 4. You watch their life, their attitude, motives and objectives in life.Questions And Answers – 08/23/64e

QUESTION: …..if you’re in a second marriage where both parties are divorced… is repentance enough, or do you have to end your marriage relationship to be right?”I wish we didn’t have to go through these things, people. I got friends setting right here, out in this audience here that I know… It just nearly kills me to say that, but I got to say it. See? And the world is in such a corruptible condition. Some poor, little, old woman make a mistake and marry some alcoholic and they turn that way, or some poor man married some streetwalker and not know it, and then be bound to that woman or man as long as they live.That’s a horrible thing. Marriage is a sacred thing. Many times sinner kids run in and do those things, and then they wonder what it’s all about. I believe, if the Lord will permit me to explain this marriage and divorce the way it should be, I believe it’ll clear up a whole lot of that.(Editor’s note: Men and Women, young men and young women, do you realize HOW SERIOUS these relationships are? It’s not to be played with or taken lightly. Remember, once a “decision” to marry a certain individual, or the “mistake” of pre-marital sex (etc.) has been made – you’re obligated to each other “till death” makes a separation. There are serious circumstances (physical abuse, etc.) which might allow a “separation” but neither patrner can marry again. It was hard for Brother Branham to say these things in 1964 and it’s just as hard for me to have to remind people today.Questions And Answers – 05/27/62

Or the woman say to her husband, “I’m not going to mix up with that bunch of holy-rollers. I’m not going to do this. I’ll separate and leave you.” Don’t you leave the church, you let her leave. See? A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such case, that is, if your companion is putting you away and wants to depart for it. You don’t have to just hold onto them. If they’re wanting to leave you and they’re going to leave you for the cause of Christ, let them leave. BUT YOU CAN’T REMARRY. “But God has called us unto peace.” See? Now, NOT that you can remarry again; he’s already stated that, but you don’t have to live with an unbelieving husband or an unbelieving wife if they are not willing.Questions And Answers – 05/27/62

If they’re willing, say, “Now, you go on to church. Now, if you want to go down there, that’s your business. You want to go to your church, you go ahead. For me, I don’t believe It. And I’ll do anything for you; I’ll not stand in your way, you go ahead,” then you just remain there, knowing not that your sanctified life will sanctify that believer, cause them to believe. See? Either side, man or woman… See?But now just to say, “Brother Branham, I got married and my wife’s an unbeliever, and here’s a sister over here I can marry. I’m going to leave this one and marry that one.” Oh, no. No, indeedy. Your vow is until death you separate, and there’s nothing else in the world will permit you to marry in the Bible until your companion is dead. That’s right. The only grounds – There’s no remarrying nowhere at all, except a dead companion. That’s all. See?He That is In You – 11/10/63e

A good man taking a bad woman, she’ll either become a good woman or he will become a bad man. Show me your company; I will tell you who you are. See? Birds of a feather, flock together. Keep away from shiny stuff.Thus Saith The Lord!!!!!
It Is Written……..Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously [deceitfully or faithlessly] against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that hehateth putting away [divorce]:Malachi 2:15-16