Only time will tell. even in your scenario. Is a marriage real in the eyes of God, When not known by other people?????
I believe we must compare covenent with covenent. Baptism ,for example. Is a person saved in being baptized or when baptized? We know that not all who call upon the Lord are saved . The differance is (just like in marriage) the heart. Did the person being baptized do it sincerely? If they did then it was accepted. If both parties in a marriage covenent were sinccere then the marriage would be accepted by God. Obviously if one or both were already married that would not be the case.
Time tells the story. If one, say, is baptized and continues to live as though they weren't saved then obviously they weren't saved. In the case of the island scenario it is when they come back into the real world that the truth is known. Do they make it official or go their separate ways??????
It's not the ceremoy or the size and or place of the ceremony that determines the truth of the marriage .It is the heart of those getting married. Any Christian can perform a marriage ,just as any christian can perform a baptism. The legalities of the world is what requires it be some one bestowed with legal authority to perform marriages. Many places allow it to be done by pastor ,preast, judge, notery and aboard ship (at sea) the caption.
That, while making it legal in the eyes of man doesn't make it right or accepted to God. We are dealing with two differant authorities here,with God being the higher.
The simple unexplained answer to your scenario is" yes" they can be married in the eyes of God even though no one witnessed but them selves
But??? What is the likelyhood that they are truely in love and commited in that situation???? Not very good I'm afraid.
Sexual intimacy does not make a marriage . If it did then adultrers would also be bigomist.
Sincerely His
Cliff
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