Barry,
You are confusing two entirely different biblical concepts. The principles of revelation at the level of Scripture, known as special revelation, are set out in the Old Testament and are used for how the canon is established. You can find a summary of what is involved with determining revelation at the Scriptural level on my website in the link, How Protestants Establish the Canon of Scripture.
Here is a quote from the article on what is basically involved.
"When the Hebrew people escaped from Egypt, at the base of Mount Sinai the Lord promised to rise up prophets in the manner of Moses to act as his spokesman. Their writings were placed in the Ark of the Covenant, located in the Holy of Holies section of the Tabernacle, to indicate their sacred status. The prophets were verified by their ability to perform signs and wonders and to foretell the future, while having a message consistent with prior Scripture. (See -- Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:15-22; 31:9. To satisfy the test of predicting the future, the prophets gift had to be confirmed in his life time, but once his status was accepted, his writings were regarded as the inspired Word of God, and the more distant events he referenced also were held as truth. In the New Testament, an apostle is the equivalent of a prophet, but with a mission reaching beyond the Jewish community."
However, God speaking to us today is basically set out by I Corinthians 14:3 and I Thessalonians 5:21,22. These verses note that prophecy today is for personal edification, exhortation, comfort. These messages are not placed at the level of Scripture, and indeed, to test the messages in proving them, one must rely on Scripture.
I Corinthians 14:3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
I Thessalonians 5:20,21
Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
In regard to whether the canon is closed today... since the writing of the New Testament, there has been no revelation meeting the test set out by God in the Old Testament revealing his plan and at the level of Scripture. Theoretically, it could happen, but so far it has not. One does wonder about the two witnesses of Revelation.
There has been no one since New Testament times who has met the Old Testament test on how a qualified prophet is verified to set out new Scripture. Some people have maintained they do have messages from God at this level, but they do not meet the test (which includes being Jewish, Romans 3:2), and they are normally regarded as heretics and kooks. I know of no church that officially places these people or their writings at the level of Scripture.
My identity as a Protestant is important as it is firmly based on the belief that Scripture alone is the ultimate authority. I receive messages from God regularly, but only for my personal guidance or to assist in the blessings of others, and these absolutely cannot be placed at the level of Scripture. The Reformation primarily came about due to upholding plain meaning hermeneutics, or that is in upholding that the basic principles of language are the true basis for interpreting the Bible. This is not man made theology, but merely refers to how the nature of language exists. However, to deny plain meaning hermeneutics only means that another system must be set in place for interpretation, and these other systems are what is man made for self-serving purposes.
