How can the language used in prophecies be understood?

Prophecies are not necessarily understood automatically. 

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Prophecies are not necessarily understood automatically:
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The language used in prophecies can be understood in certain ways. 

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Figures of speech can be used (which can require understanding them accordingly):

Figures of speech can be used in prophecies.

You can find below examples of figures of speech used in prophecies.

Symbolism:

Symbols can be used in prophecies. Symbols can be used to underline some properties of what they are trying to represent, by using common imagery that can be understood by the audience.

For example, it is written that John saw a vision, and reported: "I-saw SEVEN golden LAMPSTANDS" (Revelation 1:12).

The "SEVEN golden LAMPSTANDS" (Revelation 1:12) here are then interpreted several verses later, as it is written: "the SEVEN LAMPSTANDS ARE SEVEN CHURCHES" (Revelation 1:20).

The symbol of LAMPSTANDS was used to represent something: CHURCHES. 

LAMPSTANDS can be used here as a symbol to represented something that brings light around them. 

CHURCHES can be understood as bringing spiritual light around them. 

Metaphor:

Metaphors can be used in prophecies. Metaphors create a direct link between two unlike things, emphasizing shared characteristics.

For example, it is written that "Jesus responded and said (to) them, “Destroy THIS TEMPLE, and in three days I-will-raise it”" (John 2:19).

As a result, the Jews hearing those words thought that "THIS TEMPLE" (John 2:19) would be referring to the temple made of stones in Jerusalem that was standing there in the 1st century, as in this context Jesus said those words in "JERUSALEM. And in THE TEMPLE" (John 2:13-14) in Jerusalem made of stones. And so they answered: "Then the Jews said, “THIS TEMPLE was-built (for) forty and six years, and You will-raise it in three days?”" (John 2:20).

But then it is indicated that Jesus was in contrast referring to something else with the words "THIS TEMPLE" (John 2:19) as it is then written: "BUT that (One) was-speaking about THE TEMPLE (OF) HIS BODY" (John 2:21).

Jesus here was using a metaphor for His body, describing His body as a "TEMPLE" (John 2:19). This would be because both His body and a temple like the one in Jerusalem would have a shared purpose: to have the presence of God in them. 

Cultural idioms:

Cultural idioms can be used in prophecies. Cultural idioms are figurative expressions that are peculiar to a specific language or culture. They are a non-literal way to convey meaning.

Getting to know the culture and the cultural idioms of the audience addressed or the subject addressed can help to understand what a cultural idiom can mean.

For example it is written that Joseph said: "I dreamt another dream: as it were THE SUN, and THE MOON, and THE ELEVEN STARS PROSTRATED themselves in reverence to me" (Genesis 37:9). 

The father of Joseph understood apparently immediately what Joseph was talking about (in their cultural context), as he replied: "What (is) this dream which you dreamt? Having come up, will I come up, indeed both I and YOUR MOTHER and YOUR BROTHERS PROSTRATE ourselves in reverence to you upon the ground?" (Genesis 37:10). 

Here the father of Joseph understood that apparent cultural idiom for the sun to refer to himself, the moon to refer to the mother of Joseph and the eleven stars to refer to the eleven brothers of Joseph. 

Doing extrapolations may be avoided (which can require the use of proper logic):

It is important to not extrapolate prophecies (that is, to not guess or think about what something might mean using limited information that is already known). 

It is written that Peter pointed to another disciple, as "Peter, having-looked-at this (one), says (to) Jesus, “Lord, and what (of) this (one)? Jesus says (to) him, “IF I-WANT HIM TO-REMAIN UNTIL I-COME, WHAT (IS IT) TO YOU?" (John 21:21-22).

As a result, some people extrapolated what the words of Jesus meant, as it is written: "Therefore this statement went-out to the brothers, that “THAT DISCIPLE DOES NOT DIE”. BUT JESUS DID NOT SAY (TO) HIM THAT HE-DOES NOT DIE, BUT “IF I-WANT HIM TO-REMAIN UNTIL I-COME, WHAT (IS IT) TO YOU?”" (John 21:23).

One should be prudent about making deductions about what prophecies might mean if it is not necessarily the only logical conclusion that can be made based on the available data.

The spirit of what was said in a prophecy can be applied (which can require understanding it):

In a prophecy, the spirit of what was said can be important (that is, the overall message it is aiming to communicate).

For example it is written in Psalms 69: "For the end, on behalf of (the) ones being changed, (a Psalm) by DAVID" (Psalms 69:1 (LXX)), "Let THEIR habitation become desolate, let there not be the one dwelling in THEIR tents" (Psalms 69:25). Here "DAVID" (Psalms 69:1 (LXX)) is talking about his enemies (in the plural), as he wrote several verses earlier: "The ONES hating me without a cause are multiplied beyond the hairs of my head; MY ENEMIES are strengthened" (Psalms 69:4). 

Peter quoted that passage, but applied it specifically to Judas by changing the letter of it while keeping the spirit of what it meant, saying: "THE SCRIPTURE HAD-TO-BE-FULFILLED which the Holy Spirit spoke-beforehand through (the) mouth (of) DAVID CONCERNING JUDAS, the (one) having-become (a) guide (for) the (ones) having-arrested Jesus, “For it-has-been-written IN (THE) BOOK (OF) PSALMS, ‘Let HIS habitation become desolate, and let-there not be the (one) dwelling in IT’" (Acts 1:20).

The original quote applied to several people, but the spirit of it was that it could apply to a singular person like Judas, and so Peter applied it.

When understanding a prophecy, it is important to understand its spirit.

The pattern of a past event can be mentioned (to highlight that a similar pattern is happening):

In a prophecy, a pattern of a past event can be mentioned so that the audience can pay attention to how that past event happened, and expect a similar pattern to be recognized in that new prophecy.

For example, it is written in Psalms 41: "For the end, a Psalm by DAVID" (Psalms 41:1 (LXX)): "even my close friend, upon whom I trusted, THE ONE EATING MY BREAD HAS LIFTED HIS HEEL AGAINST ME, has lifted his heel against me" (Psalms 41:9). DAVID here may have been referring to his own son Absalom who would have LIFTED HIS HEEL AGAINST HIM (2 Samuel 15-18). The attempted takeover of the kingdom involved plotting and conspiracies, placing DAVID in danger.

This same pattern would have been mentioned later and applied to Judas (against Jesus), because Judas would have done something (against Jesus) that would be similar to Absalom (against David), as Jesus said: "(it is taking place) in-order-that THE SCRIPTURE MAY-BE-FULFILLED: ‘THE (ONE) EATING MY BREAD LIFTED-UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME’" (John 13:18) and then "JESUS answers, “It-is that (one for) whom I will-dip the piece-of-bread and give (it to) him”. Then having-dipped the piece-of-bread, He-takes and gives (it to) JUDAS, (son of) Simon Iscariot" (John 13:26).

The language of a past prophecy can be used (which can require paying attention to it):

In a prophecy, the language used can be the same as in a past prophecy already given. This is to draw the attention to that past prophecy, to create a link to it that should be noticed to better understand the new prophecy. 

For example, it is written about Jesus that "He-said to them, “Having-gone, report (to) John (the things) which you-saw and heard — BLIND (ONES) ARE-SEEING-AGAIN [...], POOR (ONES) ARE-HAVING-GOOD-NEWS-ANNOUNCED TO (THEM)" (Luke 7:22).

The language used would be using a similar language as a prophecy mentioned earlier in Luke 4, quoting a prophecy from Isaiah 61:1-2, saying: "(the) scroll (of) the prophet ISAIAH was-given (to) Him. And having-unrolled the scroll, He-found the place where IT-HAS-BEEN-WRITTEN: “(The) Spirit (of the) Lord (is) upon Me, because of which HE-ANOINTED ME TO-ANNOUNCE-GOOD-NEWS (TO) POOR (ONES). He-has-sent me out to-proclaim (a) release (to) captives and RECOVERY-OF-SIGHT (TO) BLIND (ONES)" (Luke 4:17-18).

This was important because John wanted to know if Jesus was the ANOINTED ONE to come (the Christ), as "John, having in prison heard (of) the works (of) the ANOINTED (ONE), having-sent through his disciples, said (to) Him, “Are You the (One) coming, or should-we-be-looking-for (a) different (one)?”" (Matthew 11:2-3). Jesus used a language referring to the works of the One ANOINTED was prophesied to do in Isaiah 61:1-2, as it is written: "HE-ANOINTED ME TO-ANNOUNCE-GOOD-NEWS (TO) POOR (ONES)" (Luke 4:17-18).

Without noticing that the language used can refer to a past prophecy spoken, the meaning of what this new prophecy would be trying to communicate could go unnoticed.

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