Andrew,

I think that some of the differences on the issue of cessationism are rooted in us maybe not thinking about the purpose of prophecy, and miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. If we do consider prophecy for example, we should acknowledge that its purpose was to accurately predict the future, speak on behalf of God and even serve as a sort of litmus test for a true prophet. Speaking in tongues for example had the specific purpose of preaching the Gospel to foreign-speaking people (see the Pentecost). This was directly tied to the important and imminent goal of preaching to Gospel to all creation prior to the return of Christ. Consequently, in my paradigm at least, I cannot reconcile a past Parousia continuation of those miraculous gifts once the perfect arrived. Also, someone mentioned the fact that in all instances today, speaking in tongues entails someone speaking a non-specific “language” that nobody, including the speaker, can understand.

Also, thanks for pointing out the specifics of Daniel 9:24 - I never noticed that the prophecy is about the “sealing of prophet” as opposed to “prophecy” however I would think that the context is strong enough to support the majority of translations out there and does seem to imply that is suggests a cessation of prophetic vision in general. I looked at the Oxford Tanakh translation to English and they rendered it this way:

“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city until the measure of transgression is filled and that of sin complete, until iniquity is expiated, and eternal righteousness ushered in; and prophetic vision ratified, and the Holy of Holies annointed.”

I would much rather try to parallel this specific verse with Hebrews 9:24 where a new sort of Holy of Holies is being annointed (or was in the process of being annointed at the time Hebrews was written). This is important since earlier on in Hebrews 9:8 seems to suggest that while the physical temple was standing, the New Covenant could not have been ushered in.

This seems to tie well into Daniel’s prophecy in that it speaks of a future time (490 years from the decree to rebuild the temple to be exact) when Jerusalem would be destroyed and a new way of worship, a new kind of righteousness and cessation of prophecy would materialize. I will grant you that Daniel 9 does not mention a cessation of speaking in tongues, but I would speculate that “vision” is an inclusive word that could cover many if not all of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.