If God could give a man anything better than salvation, He give him a wife. See? And so then, if He could give anything better, He would've done it. And then, to see some of them turn and don't even act like a wife, unloyal to their marriage vows and their husbands the same. You remember, you're bound as long as you live to one another. What God joins on earth is joined in heaven also. See?

You must look beyond the initial "best foot forward" relationship and observe your potential companion in the different situations and circumstances of life to make sure he/she possesses genuine, out of the heart, Christian (Christ-like) qualities. Above all other characteristics a life-time mate must possess:

1. .....a "living" relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, a Spiritual mind, even the mind of Christ, with all humilty.
2. .....a heart controlled by the Love of God, always putting God first, the body of believers second, themselves last.
3. .....a godly life, lived by the power of the Holy Ghost, endeavouring [by Grace] to daily exercise themselves unto godliness (holiness and reverence toward God and the things of God).

For a Believer to knowingly enter into a relationship with a make-believer or a non-spiritual, lukewarm church goer is religious insanity. Such a union cannot be sanctioned by God. I remind you again of the Scripture quoted above wherein Paul admonished the Believers in his day: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:;"

Never allow yourself to be cajoled by unconverted would-be mates, persuaded by worldly relations, or led by sentimental fairy tale fantasy, or, worst still, animal passions, into a union with the 'wrong' companion. You put your relationship with God at risk. Christless unions produce Christless families, living Christless lives, traveling to a Christless destiny. Remember, in mixed marriages (believer with unbeliever), more often than not the Believer goes over to the enemy. Error is contagious but Truth is not. Let the Love of God anoint your phileo love and let the dove of Divine Love lead.

Please, seriously consider the following counsel and allow it to govern your decisions. Remember also that in this link we are not discussing the subject of "Marriage And Divorce", but rather making right decisions before marriage. Remember, there is more to the revelation of Marriage and Divorce than that which is found in Bro. Branham's 1965 message entitled "Marriage and Divorce". To fully understand this issue we must take what he said "before" and "after" the "Marriage and Divorce" message. We will discuss the subject of "Marriage and Divorce" in another link.

Life Story Of William Branham - 08/20/50a
And notice this one thing now. Later on down through life, I had girlfriends like all boys. And I remember I was a little skeptic of girls; I seen the way women act. And frankly, I never did have very much use for women. I don't mean you sisters, now, but just to see how untrue they were, some of them. I was around, watched my father drinking and hung around those places, and maybe I'd be around, and I'd see how women come out and living untrue. And a lot of them women's done gone on to meet the judgment now, and will have to stand there in that day.

Life Story Of William Branham - 08/20/50a
And I said I'd never get married; never want nothing to do with one [women]. I'll be a trapper and a hunter all my life, and I'll never have nothing with the girl. When I was even seventeen, eighteen years old, I'd pass down the street. I'd see a girl on one side, and I thought she was going say something, I'd cross over and go over on the other side, because I just didn't want nothing to do. That's all, didn't want to hook up - caught up with it or anything, I wanted to keep away from it. And so I went ahead. But finally I found a girl that was a real girl. She was a Christian. She afterwards become my wife.

(Editor's note: Here's an example for our young men and women to follow - be on your guard, don't be over-anxious - wait on the Lord! Because of worldly influence too many of our young people push and race into relationships which are contrary to the will of God. Many young people attend youth conventions with the single motive of looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend. In this age there is much emphasis put on relationships and the "enticing spirit" of peer pressure is forcing many of our young people, in looking for a mate, to compromise their faith.

Questions And Answers - 01/03/54e
We've got to get in the spirit of the last days when the last days are here. You go to a dance hall, you've got to get in the spirit of dancing, or they won't dance. You go to the church, you've got to get in the Spirit of worship before you can worship. The world's got to get in the spirit of the last days before the last days can come, and we're in the spirit of the last days. And God's promised that these things would be here, and that's what we've got. We're in the last days. And men and women are setting asleep and don't realize it.

And the morals - I met a young boy here the other day - Oh, it was sometime ago; it was this last fall. And we were coming into a city. And he was telling me, a young high school boy that was married. He said, "I married this girl, 'cause she was a good girl, and had to marry her before she completed high school." Said, "We haven't had a one turned out a virgin, as far as I know in high school for years around here." See? Just so demoralized...

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part One - 09/15/57
What a blessed privilege that man has that challenge to follow the Lord Jesus, to separate himself from all his carnal associates to follow the Lord. And if any person seems not to behave themself rightly and to present themselves as Christians but love the carnal things, it's best for you to hunt another partner right away. That's right. And if no one will walk with you, there's One Who promised to walk with you: that's the blessed Lord Jesus. He will walk with you.

(Editor's Note: The context from which this quote was taken was on the subject of the separation of Believers from undebelievers, regardless of whether they be family or friends. I suggest you get the "Hebrews Series" book and read the previous four paragraphs - Pages 294-295. But the above paragraph is included here because it can serve as a warning to Believers seeking a life-time mate or companion - don't be deceived by a young man or woman who has a Christian "profession" with no "possession.

(Editor's Note: On Pages 349-350 of the Hebrews Series Book Brother Branham makes the following important comments regarding "boy-girl" relationships and "entering into marriage".

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part Two - 09/22/57
How we went through it. I said, "If I said to [or] about my wife, 'Oh, well, I'd like to have two wives. I'd like to run around with this one, and do this and that. But, if I do, my wife will divorce me and my kids will be... And my ministry would be lost,'" You dirty, rotten hypocrite. That's right. You don't love her right in the first place. That's exactly right. If you loved her, there'd be no law about it; you love her, anyhow, and you stick with her. That's exactly right. And you women will do the same thing to your husband. That's right.

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part Two - 09/22/57
.....Men see some little Jezebel all painted up, you know, and he'll go around fall for her, maybe you got a good wife. And then you call yourself a Christian. Shame on you. You need another dose of the altar. That's right. And some of you women look around at some little old guy with his hair slicked down, enough Vaseline on it to open his mouth. And then you.......

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part Two - 09/22/57
.....There's fine boys here, Christian boys. A long time ago, when I was pastor here, we used to have just young men's classes. And I'd speak to the young women on Sunday afternoon about sex and things, then the next Sunday afternoon speak to the young men, and try to get those things curbed out. Some little old girl started going with some little old shrimp downtown here, smoked cigarettes, and had a flask in his pocket, and he drove a little roadster car around town. I couldn't see what she seen in that boy. He wouldn't come to church. He'd set out there, put her in church out here, and then he'd set out there on the outside in his car and wait, wouldn't come in church. She lived in New Albany.

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part Two - 09/22/57
I said, "I want to ask you something, girlie. What in the world do you see in that boy? .....he hates the very religion that you have. He despises your Christ. He'd never make you a husband; he'd make you miserable all your life." And I said, "Why, there's fine little Christian boys here that you could go with... Your daddy and mother despises the thoughts of you going out. But you go anyhow, and you think, 'I'm sweet sixteen.'"

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part Two - 09/22/57
She started wearing makeup and running out, and first thing she was in roadhouses. She's gone on to eternity now. But then, she stood here, ...and You know what the excuse that girl give me back there that she loved that boy? She said, "He's got such cute little feet and he smells so good." Could you imagine that? Perfuming hisself up, that's a sissy, not a man. "Look," I said, "Sister, I'd rather go with a Christian boy that had feet like gravel cars and smelled like a polecat, if he was absolutely a Christian." That's right. True. Yeah, that's excuse, "Such cute little feet and smells so good." The little roadhouse runner finally ruined the life of the girl. It's a shame, disgraceful.

Hebrews, Chapter 7, Part Two - 09/22/57
Marriage is honorable, but it should be entered prayerfully and reverently. And genuine love for that woman will bind you together forever. "What you bind on the earth, I'll bind in heaven." When you walk down the street yonder, she may get old, and gray, and wrinkled, but that same love you had for her when she was a young beautiful woman, you'll still have it. You may get stoop-shouldered, baldheaded, and wrinkled-faced, and everything else, but she'll love you just like you did when you stand with wide shoulders and curly hair, if it's really God. For you're looking to the time when you've crossed the river yonder, when you'll spring back again to young men and women to live together forever. That's God's eternal promise. He said He would do it. Not only that, we'll get to it in a minute, He swore He'd do it.

Why Are We Not A Denomination? - 09/27/58
I'll stop on my subject just a minute if it's possible. I was reading in a piece of Scripture where that a illegitimate child will not enter the congregation of the Lord for fourteen generations. How many knows that? That's right, Deuteronomy 23, an illegitimate child. If a woman is caught in the field, that's away from the protection of man, and a man overcomes that woman, that man will have to marry her. And regardless if she becomes a prostitute, he has to live with her till he dies. And if this woman marries him, pretending that she is a virgin, and she isn't, then she can be killed for it.

(Editor's Note: Brother Branham later clarified the issue of the illegitimate child stating that the blood of Christ atone's for the child. In genuine repentance the Blood of Christ catches that sin, preventing it from being laid to the charge of that individual. The same applies to the judgement of "visiting the iniquities of the mothers and fathers to the 3rd. and 4th. generations" - genuine repentance annuls the judgement for the repentant individual.)

The Serpent Seed - 09/28/58E
Adam had done named all of the creation, everything else. But he wasn't nothing for himself, so He made Him a helpmate: took a rib from his side, closed up the gash, and made a helpmate to him. And man in his spirit was both man and woman. And "a" woman is just a part of "a" man. And when a man takes to himself a wife, and if she's correctly his wife, a God-given wife, she'll be just to him as part of him.

That's the reason you have so many scruples in the marriage. Is because you go out and see some girl with pretty brown eyes, or blue eyes, or something like that, some pretty figure, and you fall for her. First time she has her first baby them teeth comes out, and she gets wrinkled and old, and then you want to kick her out.

And some of you women find some little boy with his hair slicked down, his mammy's lard can half dumped on it, and curly; it'll all fall out. I know that by experience. But what happens? What is it? You fall for that. You ought to pray first, 'cause a woman is part of you.

And if you've embraced a woman to your bosom, and taken her for your wife, and she makes an imprint on you... (We'll say it like this so you'll understand) and any other woman against that bosom won't fit that print. And God will hold you responsible for it. You just remember that.

Be Certain Of God - 01/25/59
And then in his wedding, instead of marrying among his [Ahab's] own people, he went over and married a sinner, an idolater, worship of idols. He married Jezebel. And she was not a believer. And no believer should ever marry an unbeliever, under no circumstances: should always marry believers. But Ahab had done this evil thing. And no doubt but what Jezebel was a beautiful woman. And he'd fell for what she looked like in the stead of what she was. So many people make that same mistake to this day. And she had brought idolatry in the nation, among the people. And the people, the priests, their ministers, had fell victim to this great popular demand.

(Editor's note: Please note that Brother Branham said: "No Believer should ever marry an unbeliever". That is common sense! The Bible is clear in this matter. But should a boy or girl have already committed fornication with, or promised to marry an unbeliever prior to entering into a relationship with the Lord, God holds them to their promise to that "unbeliever".

In an attempt to justify the "unscriptural" actions of certain Brother's and Sister's, some have taken this quote "out of the context" of the entire message. They focus on the words "under no circumstances", failing to take into consideration all that the prophet said - especially after the "Opening of the Seven Seals". When we take "all" he said then we understand that "under no circumstances" to mean under no "normal" circumstances. But the quotes above and below show that "other than normal circumstances" can prevail which "obligate " one individual to another because of prevailing circumstances such as:

1. A verbal agreement (commitment) to another - whether that one be a believer or unbeliever - God holds the individual(s) to that commitment. Scripturally, the father of a girl can annul an engagement - if the girl is living at home and he annul it as soon as he has knowledge of it.
2. Fornication, intimate contact by mutual consent [even the seemingly simple act of kissing] also obligates a boy and girl to each other "for life" - they have "consummated" a marriage.
It is written: "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.")

Kinsman Redeemer - 10/02/60
And when a man loves a woman and marries her because she's just pretty, there'll be an end to that. But when a man finds a woman that he loves, he don't know why, but he loves her. And she finds the man that she loves, no matter what he looks like - He loves her. She loves him. That's an eternal mate in glory. Death nor nothing else can ever separate them. Because they are from eternity, and they stepped out into space of time, and will return back to eternity. Eternity has dropped down in a body called time, then it goes right back up into eternity again. It cannot perish.

(Editor's Note: Make SURE your marriage is "made in Heaven" and NOT in hell. Sincerely pray for God's leadership in finding a mate.

End Time Evangelism - 06/03/62
God wants His people to be separated from unbelief and unbelievers. So many of you people make a mistake in this, sometimes letting your children play out here [with] a little Oswald. See? I don't mean to be different now, and starchy, and so forth, and be some kind of a fanatic. I don't mean that. You be sure who your daughter goes out with at nighttime. See? Maybe you raised her a godly little old girl around the church, and the first thing you know she gets out with Oswald or some of them, and he's an atheist, unbeliever, and her life will come up ruined and you don't know what he is. You see? Then he'll marry her, and look where your kids are, your grandchildren then. You see? Be careful. God wants His people to be separated.

(Editor's Note: The above quote is a WARNING to parents. While a son or daughter is living at home the parents are responsbile for what they allow their children to do or not do. Parents need to take Joshua 24:15 as a motto for their homes: "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". Know what kind of music your child is listening to - even much of the so-called "contemporary Gospel" is unchristian; know what books they are reading; watch the "desires" of your son or daughter in the area of clothing, hair styles and friends - all this will give you an indication of the "anointing" that's on them.

End Time Evangelism - 06/03/62
You read Exodus 34:12 once, and see what God told Israel. "When you go over in that land, clean out everything's there. Don't you have one thing to do with it." Joshua also, 23rd chapter and 12th verse, watch what Joshua said, "Now God's brought you to this good land," like the Church now, "and has brought you to this good land. Do you enjoy it?" They say, "Amen, we enjoy it."

Said, "Now there's some remnant of these unbelievers out here, and don't you associate with them. Don't go with them." Don't you, sister,[associate with unbelievers] - if that boy wants to take you to a barroom somewhere, just to have a friendly little drink, stay away from him. And the same thing, you boys, to that girl that would do the same thing. Stay away from them. Now you're going to say, "Brother Branham's an old crank." But one of these days you'll find out. You'd been along the trail that I been along, you'd know that that's right. Yes, sir.

End Time Evangelism - 06/03/62
How many times have I seen in the confession rooms, where the young girls would come in disgrace. That mark will go with her till she dies, and the things that she said. Once raised in a fine Christian home, but here's what happened; she went out with this boy. He was just so cute she just couldn't keep away from him, and all like this. And the first thing, he smoked cigarettes and had a flask in his pocket, and they got to drinking, and here you are. See? And there she is in disgrace and that. Oh, it's a pitiful thing. You see it on both sides. So just stay away, separate yourself. Be nice and kind to everybody, but don't be partakers of their sin. Stay away from it. Yes, sir.

Key To The Door - 10/07/62
By the way, I have a letter here that just come in the mail.....and this comes from the ministerial association that's got a lot of things. That's what gets things scrupled up. You see? That they claim in here that some brethren up there that said that I sent them up there, and they're preaching that men should leave their wives and hunt for their spiritual mate, and tthat I am perfectly infallible, .....And, oh, some of the awfullest things you ever heard. And the ministerial association got ahold of it, and they're writing me a letter about it, and that I sent them up there and it's causing a lot of confusion. And some of them prophesying and saying that one man should leave this wife and go marry that one.

Now, this church knows that we don't stand for no such tommyrot as that. We believe in the Bible. We believe that when man takes a woman that's his wife, and death only can separate them. .......We don't believe in "free love" either. We don't believe in that stuff. We absolutely believe the Bible and That alone.

End Time Evangelism - 06/03/62
And it's always, friends, the leaders, each time through the change of these dispensations, has got the people all messed up. It hasn't been so much the people. If the Gospel would've stayed in the pulpit where It belonged...

Stature Of A Perfect Man - 10/14/62m
I might say something here. Now, someone got me all wrong here not long ago. I got a letter from the Ministerial Association that said that I believed that there we were soul-mated; and we must leave our companions if we're not soul-mated to them, to marry another one that we were soul-mated to. Oh, my. I said, "I'm not guilty of a heresy like that." I've always been against that. I don't believe in that. And certainly not. I believe that God gives us a mate; that's true. And then we become part of each other. That's right. And before a man gets married, he should think these things over; study it.

A young man asked me the other day, said, "You think I could - ought to get married, Brother Branham, to such-and-such a girl?"
I said, "How much do you think of her?"
He said, "Oh my, I just love her."
I said, "Well, if you're not going to live without her, you'd better marry her then. But if you can live without her, you better not, But if it's going to kill you, you better go ahead and get married." I said. And so what I was trying to get to him, this: .....Now, right now before you're married, everything's just fine and dandy. But after you get married, then the toils and trials of life come in. That's when you've got to be so in love that you understand one another. When you're disappointed in her, or she's disappointed in you, you still understand one another.

Why I Am Against Organized Religion - 11/11/62m
I believe in holiness and purity. I believe that man is bound to his wife as long as they live. You shouldn't take her without praying first.

The Absolute - 03/04/63
When a young man is going to get married to a young woman, he must know the character of this young woman. Or the young woman must know the character of the young man, something that she can hold to. Will this man be a just man? Will he make me the right type of husband? Will this woman give to me in life what I expect out of her, of loyalty and so forth? And then it's got to be somewhere that they can base their vows upon, knowing that there's something that will hold. And that's the reason we bring them to the church, and to the Word of God, to get this absolute tied.

The Third Exodus - 06/30/63M
The Life of the Messiah manifested making a church ready, a Bride... A woman marry a man and disagreeing with him, it would be some kind of a fuss continually. But when a man and his wife, his girlfriend, his espoused, when they're in perfect harmony like one soul and one mind, because they're going to be one flesh... Then when the church can get in such harmony with God until the manifestation of the Bridegroom is manifested in the Bride, because they're going to be One... Oh, what a great lesson.

We Have Seen His Star - 12/16/63
.....but there's ways that God can reveal Himself to you. You see? Whether it might be dreams, it might be in some other way, if you'll just submit yourself like Joseph did. No doubt he said, "O great Jehovah God, I come through the lineage of David. And I'm a righteous man; I hope I am. I'm trusting in what You said to be the Truth. And my beloved little sweetheart here, that I'm espoused to - I mind to put her away otherwise, I'm guilty of committing adultery. And she's to be mother, and I don't know her as a wife. What is these things, Lord?"

Editor's note: Joseph was assuming that Mary was with child by another man. And Brother Branham is saying that 'if Joseph consummated a marriage with Mary who was already with child he would be committing adultery.' WHY? Because the man to whom any womanm gives herself in an intimate affair resulting in conception or non-conception, that man becomes her husband - a marriage has been consummated and God holds them legally obligated to each other till death parts them.

Editor's note: If after having an affair with one woman that a man marries another, he is committing adultery; and causes her to do the same. One doesn't need great revelation insight to see this scenario - In the Light of the simple teaching of Scripture this is easily understood - IF ONE WANTS TO UNDERSTAND IT. Unfortunately, many who become emotionally involved allow self-will to take preeminence over God's Will and approach the situation in a way that is contrary to Scripture).

We Have Seen His Star - 12/16/63
Now, Joseph was a good man; he was the son of David, and he was espoused to Mary. I'd like to pass this on before we go further. Espousing in the east was the same as marriage: is betrothal. As soon as they were espoused, they were married. When that sacred vow between them was taken, read Deuteronomy 22:23, and you'll find out that when this woman and man agreed to be married (yet they did not take the vows for months later), if they even broke that vow, they were guilty of adultery. That's right. When they was espoused, they were just the same as marriage. The law had not give them rights to live together as husband and wife yet, but before God, when they promised one another, their words were sealed in God's Kingdom. And to break that was just committing adultery. .....minister brothers, if you'd study that right good, it'd clear you up on this marriage and divorce case that's so hard and different amongst the people today. .....Now, we find out that this could not be broken.

Editor's note: Over a year before he preached on the subject of Marriage and Divorce Brother Branham is again dropping a hint relating to the true Bible teaching on this very important subject.

The Oddball - 06/14/64e
I went to a certain place the other night to get something to eat, and the little boys and girls up there hugging and kissing like I don't know what. And do you know, my little sister, that that's potentially an adultery? When a man kisses you, he's potentially committed adultery with you. You should never let him kiss you until you're married, for the glands, both male and female glands, is in the lips. Do you understand? And when male and female glands come together, let it be where it may be, you have potentially committed adultery. And you shouldn't let a boy kiss you until that veil is raised on your face and you're his wife. Don't do that. It's committing adultery. It's mixing male and female glands.

The Oddball - 06/14/64e
Why don't a man kiss a man, woman kiss a woman in the lips? Because it don't cross the glands. Children is born by crossing glands. So it's almost a public adultery again, everywhere. Look on the screens and everything you see, a slobbering and a carrying on. No wonder immorality is on the incline [increase]. How can they do it and spurn themselves all up by kissing those women in the mouth, knowing that that's adultery. God won't forgive it unless you repent.

Questions And Answers - 08/23/64e
QUESTION: Brother Branham, what is the meaning of a annulment? Are people free to marry or is this just another word for divorce? I would like some information on this.

ANSWER: Sure they're married. As long as they take that vow, they're married. Just like a boy, if a boy promises a girl to marry her under good faith, he's obligated to that girl. He's just as good as married her. The only thing the law does, is give you a bill of rights to live together to keep from being common-law husband and wife. But when a man tells a woman, "I will marry you, Honey; I will take you for my wife. Will you take..." he's married. Your vow is sacred; that's what marries you anyhow. There's not no preacher can marry you, no magistrate, or nothing else; it's your own vow to God "and" to this man. When you promise, you are married.

Questions And Answers - 08/23/64e
And little lady, if you promised to marry that boy, you're obligated to do it. If you marry another after that obligation, from now on anyhow [after receiving this knowledge] - you'll be living in adultery. And notice, the same thing to a boy promising to marry a woman... Don't you make your vow to anybody unless you mean to stick with it. Remember, there's the Bible for it. Joseph promised to marry Mary. And God said that was that...

Questions And Answers - 08/23/64e
Read the Old Testament laws on that. See? The Old Testament law, if you promised to marry a woman, and you married another one, you was committing adultery; and it throwed you out of the camp. Yes, sir. You have to keep your vows when you promise a woman that. She's a sacred little vessel, and that's to bring child life into the world again. So when you promise her, you must marry her.

God's Provided Place of Worship - 04/25/65
Did you know any man that kisses a woman is morally obligated to marry her? Potentially it's a sex act. Sure, it is. Yes, sir. What is it? It's the male glands in a man's lip and the female glands. When male and female glands comes together, it's sex. Look on Hollywood; look at the little girls laying out here in the parks and the boys wallowing around over these girls, and things like that, and even singing in choirs.

Editor's note: THIS IS SERIOUS! In no uncertain terms the Prophet says that kissing is a "potential" sex act, thereby making it "potential" adultery or fornication. In the kissing and other acts, such as necking, petting, etc. the "potential" or power and force for adultery and fornication is there. If one continues to do it, it will eventually become the spark that flames the fires of adultery and fornication, which eventually trap a person(s) into unfortunate and irreversible relationships. Jesus said, "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Here Jesus warns us to guard our thoughts of or about intimate things. We can't stop the birds from flying over but it's important that our thoughts not evolve into uncontrolled lust. James said, "when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Questions And Answers - 08/23/64m
Now, on this here, Here's what I say. Let me say this, not the Lord, let me say it. If you are married at this time, and you both are saved, and you're filled with the Holy Spirit, and you love one another, and you've got little children (Now, remember this is me, not the Lord. See?), go ahead and live together; be happy; 'cause you couldn't live with your first wife or you wouldn't have married her. Then if you leave this [second wife] and go back to your first one, you're doing worse than you did in the first place. See? So you see, you're all messed up; there's no way of getting out of it. There'd only be one way truly that I can say from the Bible: both of you live single. See?

Editor's note: This is a hard pill for many to swallow. In situations dealing with Marriage and Divorce many will take only what Brother Branham said in his Message entitled "Marriage And Divorce" (1965), failing to see that prior to preaching that Message the prophet was dropping hints about the "Truth" of the Bible teaching on this very serious subject. We'll get into these things in a separate link.

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.

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 he hateth putting away [divorce]:

Malachi 2:15-16

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