And that...

2.)"Bible prophecy can be compared to observing a distant mountain range. From several kilometers away, the range looks like one long mountain. But as you get closer, you can distinguish between the different ranges. You can tell which mountains are in front, which are in back and so on."

Regarding point 2, with Biblical scripture sometimes the events appear to be a mixed up. That's the way the prophets (who were also human) saw them. Many of them didn't even understand their own prophecies. (see Daniel 12:8)) And so, like with that mountain range, as we get closer to the fulfillment of a specific prophecy, the picture becomes clearer.

The Book of Daniel has some amazing revelations about what the Bible calls the "latter days" or the final days of the present world system. Daniel did not understand the visions he was getting from the archangel Michael (Daniel 12:8) and, like any of us would, he wanted to know. But when he asked the angel what it all meant, Michael replied, "...the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end."--(Daniel 12:9) Daniel died never knowing what it meant.

What does that mean for us in this day and age? The angel clearly said that they were "Sealed till the time of the end". The interesting bit about this is that many of these exact prophecies are now open to us. An apparent sign that we are getting closer to those _ mountains _ .

Please keep in mind that these are only the basics here as we now see them. This is the bare minimum that we have to have to get a clearer idea of these mysterious prophecies.