51. As regards what the image is, an image is not a likeness but is 'according to a likeness'. Therefore it is said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness'. A spiritual man is an image, whereas a celestial man is a likeness or exact replica. The spiritual man is the subject in this present chapter, the celestial man in the next. The spiritual man, who is an image, is called by the Lord 'a son of light', as in John,

He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. John 12:35-36.

He is also called 'a friend',

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:14-15

The celestial man however, who is a likeness, is called 'a son of God', in John,

As many as received Him, to them He gave power to be sons of God, to those believing in His Name, who were born, not of blood, ¹ nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.

Footnotes:

690. 16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl onto the sun. This symbolizes influx into the people's love.

To pour out the bowl symbolizes here, as before, an influx springing from goods and truths, here an influx into the people's love; for the sun symbolizes the Lord's Divine love, and in an opposite sense a love of self (nos. 53, 383, 414). Here it is a love of self, because we are told next that people were scorched with fire, and scorched with great heat, which symbolizes the lusts of that love.