We are faced with one of two conclusions. Either the Spirit of God gave men “words” to write or He gave them “thoughts”. The answer from scripture is that God gave them “words” (1 Cor. 2:13). The Bible is clear about men tampering with the Words which God gave by which we have scriptures. We find these truths in Deuteronomy 4:2; Prov. 30:6; and Rev. 22:18,19. If one changes the Words they have created a “new gospel”. We understand that it is not a new gospel but a perversion of the existing gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). The truth came from God and no man has a right to change, alter or make the truth say something different than what God said.
The men of the old testament wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:20,21). Each person who studies the Word of God must interpret what he has read (Acts 17:11). No one can argue against the idea of interpreting what one reads. The danger cited in this passage in 2 Peter is of “privately” interpreting what God has revealed. Let us go back to the old example we have used here so often. Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Micah 5:2). There is no other city that could fulfill that statement from Micah. The book of Mormon teaches that Jesus was born in Jerusalem (Alma 7:10). Mr. Smith privately interpreted. He was wrong and so also is the religion which he created. One cannot make the scriptures say something that God did not intend.
The confusion then by men using prophecies to mean something different than what God said results in confusion. Is God the author of confusion? We know He is not (1 Cor. 14:33). What then is the source of confusion? It is men with hidden agendas who are interest in keeping propped up, false religions. Truth dispels the darkness. It requires diligent study and proper rules of interpreting in order for us to arrive at truth (2 Tim. 2:15). Prophecies are just one portion of scripture but it really applies to all scripture. Study in the proper way and reach only those conclusions based on the evidence of scripture.