1) Come humbly as a child ready to be taught
2) Pray for enlightenment from the Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible writers
3) Discard all preconceived opinions and biases
4) Leave behind the commentaries of men (The Holy Spirit can teach you more in a moment than the wisest man could teach you in a lifetime).
5) Ask God for guidance believing He desires for you to understand.
6) Don't fret if things don't immediately become clear. Patience and diligence is a virtue. (Sometimes God may test our sincerity to know truth to reveal to us our heart.)
7) Don't be swayed by opinions of men. If something is not clear, look for the interpretation from the Bible. (The Bible is an amazing book. It interprets itself. But you have to dig deep.)
9) Set aside some quiet time that you can devote to study and contemplation.
10) Attempt to comprehend every passage but don't be discouraged if you fail.
11) Have endurance. Keep at it.

One example of allowing the Bible to interpret itself is to look up other usages of words that you find in the passage you are trying to understand. Try looking up the first usage of the word in the old testament. Then look up various usages by other writers. Build a picture of the word.

Pray is the key. You must pray for God to open your understanding. Then you must dig. God will reward ALL who diligently seek. This is a promise from God. "Seek and ye shall find." If your faith is weak then think of this. God give good gifts to both the righteous and the evil persons. He causes his sun to shine and his rain to fall on both. When we were his enemies he sent his Son to die that we might live. If he gave us the best gift, that of his Son, while we were his enemies, then will he not now more freely give us good gifts if we ask?

In the interpretation of Bible prophecy, many men have failed to find the truth. Their predictions fall by the wayside as nations disappear, men pass away, and walls come down. It is because they have not sought the interpretation from God. They have not allowed the Bible to speak for itself and then sought God's enlightenment where the Bible is silent. Thus they have proven themselves false prophets. Of them, the Lord says, "They do not speak for me. I have not given them their words."

Isaiah said, "If they speak not according to the law and the prophets, it is because their is no light [truth] in them." A true prophet will never contridict the Holy Word of God. By this you may try the spirits to see if they be of God. In Galations Paul writes that if any one, even an angel from heaven, comes preaching another gospel than that which been preached by the Apostles then you are not to listen to that being but they are to be accursed.

I hope you now feel confident that God is willing and will help you understand what has been dark to the minds of many for ages. Yet, now in these last days knowledge will be increased. Even the simple will understand -- for it is God who gives wisdom.

May God bless your studies.