Is There a Real Life Historical Case Like This?
1) Direct answer
Yes. The Bible gives real historical cases that show exactly this principle.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Michal and David: Michal was David’s lawful wife. Saul later gave her to another man (Paltiel) while David still lived (1 Samuel 18:27; 25:44). When David demanded her, she was returned to him and the second union ended (2 Samuel 3:14–16). This shows the first marriage remained binding, and the later union had to cease.
- Sarah and Abimelech: Sarah was taken into Abimelech’s house under a mistaken assumption, but God said, “She is a man’s wife… restore the man his wife” (Genesis 20:2–7). Even in ignorance, God upheld the first covenant.
- Herod and Herodias: John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife” (Mark 6:17–18). While the first husband lived, the second relationship was condemned as unlawful.
- The rule stated: “If, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress… but if her husband be dead, she is free” (Romans 7:2–3).
3) Simple clarifying logic
Now notice: in every case, the living first covenant governed the outcome. Mistake, time, or a second union did not dissolve it. Restoration to the original covenant—or separation from the unlawful union—was required.
4) Short reinforcing statement
You see, the Bible’s history and its doctrine match: the first bond stands while he lives.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
And knoweth it not
65-0815 §92
...feet." He said, "After it quit shaking, I heard a voice." And said, "Brother Branham, it was your voice. And I know, something said that to me." Said, "It said, 'I'll ride this trail once more.'" Said, "I started looking up the rock like this, and looked on, in past the clouds, and way up there standing on a rock that reach from the east to the west in a pointed shape like that, like a pyramid. Run back there to the east," and said, "there you was standing there on a horse that... I never seen anything like it in...
Planting the Vine and where to plant it
59-0920 §36
You'd like to feel like they did on the day of Pentecost? Wouldn't you love to have the joy they had? When God poured in His life into the first branch of the tree, that tree begin to act like drunken people. They staggered under the impact of the Spirit. Lovely, holy little women like the virgin Mary out there acting like she was drunken, for she was drunk upon the Spirit. And she tried to talk, and she could not. She had stammering lips, which means cloven, just a stammer. Trying to say something, she was so full...
Do you now believe?
52-0817E §31
I motioned for her like that. She couldn't understand nothing I said, and I couldn't understand what she'd say. So I motioned to her. And she put her little crutches out like this. She threw her little limb like that. And I just stood still. The other two officers went up there and stopped, and looked back. But I was standing here, and the other two standing behind me. She walked right up to where I was. And I wondered what the child was going to do. She walked real close to me, about like this, and she stopped; sh...
Questions and Answers (God being misunderstood)
61-0723E §109
As we bow our heads: To be like Jesus, just to be like Jesus On earth I long to be like Him; All through life's journey from earth to glory I only ask to be like Him. From Bethlehem's manger came forth a stranger, On earth I long to be like Him; All through life's journey from earth to glory I only ask to be like Him. Don't forget Sunday. Don't forget Wednesday night is prayer meeting. Remember, pray much. Pray for me, pray for your pastor, pray for your neighbor, your deacons, your trustees, pray that God will hav...
The Token
63-1128E §33
You know, in a court, when a trial is set, when you know that you were facing death, like this here nightclub man that just killed this Mr. Oswald. If you knowed you were facing that, or something similar to it, you would hire the best attorney you could find. I would. If I knowed my life was at stake, I'd hire the best attorney I could find. Every person would. It's only the sensible thing to do. Now, in this case, to know that you are going to go to an electric chair, and you're going to separate from your family...