The use of scripture in prophecy

All spelling/typing mistakes my own and I apologise to the author. The below quote is taken from pages 60 and 61 of "Understanding Prophetic People- Blessings and Problems with the Prophetic Gift" by R. Loren Sandford.

I am currently reading this book and came across this quote and would like to share it with you. It is about the use of scripture. I think it is a timely reminder to the body of Christ;

In the same way that the contemporary prophetic
ministry cannot add to or substitute for Scripture, neither can it be made into a key for interpreting the Bible. The Bible must be interpreted and understood in it's own context and on its own terms according to the intended meaning of the author.

Four different contexts reveal its meaning.

First, every word of Scripture has a linguistic context that demands we study the original languages. Words have specific definitions that can be
discovered.

Second, every verse has a historical context. Its meaning should be viewed in the light of the events of the day, or historical backdrop, in which it was written.

Third, every passage of Scripture speaks form a cultural context. This context determines meaning in the same way that culture informs the meaning of words we use today.

And fourth, we must understand the passage in the context of the verses surrounding it. Context informs meaning. When we lift a verse from its context, we not only miss parts of its meaning, but we also often distort or even lose its true meaning entirely.

Careful study of each element of context therefore reveals the intended meaning of the author. That intended meaning is the only infallible revelation of God. We have no right to change it, spiritualize it or
make it say anything orther than it was originally intended to say. No level of supposed Holy Spirit inspiration can be allowed to supersede these considerations, or else we have granted ourselves the right to make the Bible say whatever we want it to say. Doing so takes God off the throne and presumptuously seats us in His place.


Scripture gives us an objective revelation that cannot be altered, not subjective ones that varies with the inner perception or personal inspiration of the reader. No revelation, prophetic word, dream or
vision can change the intended meaning of any verse of scripture.

Personal revelation, prophetic words, dreams and visions can expand our understanding at the level of the heart, but they cannot be
allowed to alter or even add to the message......

....We think emotionally (prophetic people) and must struggle to achieve a balance between the discipline of reason and the depth of wisdom that intuitive understanding can bring when such a balance exists. We
need objective revelation, and Scripture provides this as we learn to study it properly.