As for the OP, here is my answer.
People today come up with all these differing opinioins because they know nothing about Bible interpretation, or hermeneutics. They pull one verse out of context, and make a doctrine out of it. The JWs do that, and the Word Faith are very bad at that.
There are just a few basic principles.
1. Context
A. What do the surrounding verses say? The passage? The chapter? The book? The rest of the Bible? In light of Jesus? Half the problems would be gone if people wouldn't take part of a verse and make a doctrine out of it.
B. The book was written to a certain people, or person at a specific time. First, what does it say to that people, or person in that time? The Bible was written to us, in the future, but only secondarily. Once we understand the original context, the culture, the surrounding cultures, what had gone before, or will come after, only then can we carefully apply it to now, our lives, and our church community. And that still leaves a lot of Scripture for us. Someone posted something from Jeremiah the other day on here, said it applied to us. Asked why did God write it if it wasn't for us? Seriously?? How culture centric can you get? Jeremiah was told by God to give warnings to Judah if they didn't repent of worshipping idols. Now, if people are worshipping idols today, then we can apply it to now. But, always remembering that Israel and Judah were the examples.
C. Good Bible interpretation requires that you can NOT make a doctrine out of one verse. Or one verse in the OT and the quoted passage in the NT. So, there are no "new" so called revelations from God. But, the old ones should take us a life time to understand.
For example, if someone tells you that you MUST be healed according to Isa. 53:5d, first. Read the surrounding verses, which are describing sin, and the cure for sin. Then read the chapter, which is describing sin. Then read all of Isaiah, having first looked up the background. The first chaper is always very important, in a book. Isa. 1 is all about Israel being sin-sick. Then ask for the 20 other verses and passages that show you MUST be healed. I am not talking about citing Jesus miracles. Of course he healed! It was as sign he was the Messiah, and fufilled the prophecies, besides his compassion for others. And there are some difficult passages, take the time to see if they really mean name it and claim it, or something else.
See, it isn't hard. You don't even need to know Greek or Hebrew, and any translation, so long as you understand the words, says the same thing. Of course, if you have not studied 16th century English, probably not the best version to use. Although I know there are those in this forum, who really have studied those words, and understand the meanings.
As for "God told me so" extra biblical revelation is so fraught with holes, at that point, time to walk away. Supposedly , God can confirm anything anyone wants. But, if it is different from what the Bible says, it brings us back to false prophecies, which were punished by death in the OT! That is one thing you can remind people who say "God told me" if it contradicts the Bible. Too much of that going around these days. (I am not even speaking of this forum, but TV preachers and those types.!)
