While scholarship, logic, persistence, and humility are important virtues, and very much required in order to understand prophecy, the primary trait that is required is sonship. Without a saving relationship with God, through Christ, you simply won't understand the spirit of the text (1 Corinthians 2:14). You may grasp history, geography, and language, but the hidden things of God will remain hidden. A regenerated heart is an absolute requirement. So how does one obtain such a awesome thing as sonship with the living God?
First, one must seek God (Hebrews 11:6) and one must be drawn by the Holy Spirit. Approaching the subject through pure logic, won't get the job done. Jesus said that after He left, He would send the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit would have three jobs (among others): to reprove people of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement (John 16:8). This is because we have inherited a sin nature which creates an elaborate defense mechanism which serves to prevent Truth from penetrating our hearts. We need the Holy Spirit to break down that resistance. He doesn't do it through condemnation (that's Satan's whip). He does it with love combined with Truth. How does He do that? He uses the foolishness of preaching (1 Corinthians 1:18:25). He uses scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). He always honors the life and work of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:3).
Salvation is not a self-help program. If you think you can learn the principles of the Bible and apply them in some systematic formula as a substitute for the new birth, you are simply (and in the end, tragically) mistaken. Jesus said you must be born again. This is a spiritual birth, that comes through the work of the Holy Spirit, when we accept the message of the Gospel and repent of our sins (John 3:1-12).
What does the Holy Spirit want you to know? One, that we are sinners - in word, thought, and deed; and our sin separates us from God. (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Romans 5:12, Romans 3:10-18) No Excuses! Second, there are no good works that we can do to make up for our sin (Titus 3:5-7, Ephesians 2:8-9). Third, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Meaning, not just physical death, but eternal death in a place called Hell. This place was not created for us, but for Satan and his angels. But, because Satan convinced mankind to follow him in sin, it has become our future destiny as well. Your natural mind will not want to accept this. It will tell you that you are a good person and that Hell is only for bad people. But the Holy Spirit will confirm what that Bible says is true, if you will listen to Him. All have sinned and fallen short of God. There is no one who is righteous. Our righteousness is like filthy rags, in the sight of a Holy God (Isaiah 64:6).
Finally, the Holy Spirit wants you to know the "Good News". That is what the word, "Gospel" means - good news. Jesus bore the wrath of God poured out on himself on the cross, shedding his blood, for the sin of all mankind (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:27, John 10:7-18, Isaiah 53:5, 1 John 4:10 , Revelation 3:20 ), so that we don't have to pay the price ourselves. But we do have to ask that His sacrifice be applied to us and repent of our sin, accepting Christ as the Lord of our life (Acts 16:30-31). Understand that Jesus not only died for your sins, he was resurected, and is alive today to act as your advocate before God (1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 1 John 2:1-2, Hebrews 7:25 ). So, honestly repent and confess Christ as your savior and trust in Him with your whole heart, knowing you have obeyed the scripture (Romans 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians 1:9) and you will be saved.
Study the scriptures on this page and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Then follow His lead. I am not trying to make you my disciple or invite you into my church. I am offering you the same pathway that I followed, and that millions have followed into the kingdom of God. Acknowledge your sins with sorrow, repent of them, and accept the free gift of Christ's sacrifice to be applied to your life, and allow the Holy Spirit to regenerate your heart. If you have taken these steps just now, you will want to read the page on discipleship.
If you want to learn more, I would suggest you start with the book of John in the New Testament and read about the life and teachings of Jesus, himself. Then, for more of his life, read the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well. Then, to see how faith in Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit radically affected the 1st century followers of Christ, read the Acts of the Apostles. The letters of Paul contain a detailed understanding of the new faith in Christ that early followers sought to understand. He showed how it fulfilled the Law of Moses, but created a new covenantal relationship with God, through Christ; doing away with the Law of Moses. If you are still undecided, you may want to read, Commonn Excuses.
Finding a good church, that preaches the full gospel, without shame or apology, is very important in your spiritual growth. None of us can "go-it-alone" and the Bible encourages us to join with other believers, for support, worship, study, prayer, and good works. Confess your faith openly, by getting publicly baptized. This is something that Christ wants his followers to do out of obedience. It is not a "sacrament" that has saving power, in and of itself. It is what happens in your heart, that creates the genuine conversion. But Christ knows that by being obedient to this commandment, you are less likely to slither back to a life of sin, thinking that no one is watching. Making your profession of faith public, helps to "seal the deal", and sets you up for a new life in Christ, where old things are gone and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Until you are baptized, rooted and grounded in the faith, have joined a church, and have joined with other Christians in fulfilling the ministerial gifts that the Holy Spirit reveals in your life, I recommend that you wait on studying prophecy. Fascinating as these things are, they are not the first principles of Christian life. However, if you are a seasoned Christian and/or if you are being confronted with cultish claims about prophetic scripture, this is one good place to obtain a proper understanding of prophecy. I also highly recommend purchasing a good study Bible. My favorite is the Dake Annotated Reference Bible, which provides much of the material for this website.