Arcana Coelestia #51
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:
1. literally, of bloods
Heaven and Hell #590
590. There is a perpetual equilibrium between heaven and hell. From hell there continually breathes forth and ascends an effort to do evil, and from heaven there continually breathes forth and descends an effort to do good. In this equilibrium is the world of spirits; which world is intermediate between heaven and hell (see above, 421-431). The world of spirits is in this equilibrium because every man after death enters first the world of spirits, and is there kept in a state like that in which he was while in the world, and this would be impossible if there were not a perfect equilibrium there; for by means of this the character of everyone is explored, since there they are left in the same freedom as they had been in the world. Spiritual equilibrium is freedom with man and spirit (as has been said just above, 589). What each one's freedom is, the angels recognize by a communication of affections and thoughts therefrom; and it becomes visible to the sight of angelic spirits by the ways in which the spirits go. Those who are good spirits there travel in the ways that go towards heaven, but evil spirits in the ways that go towards hell. Ways actually appear in that world; and that is the reason why "ways" in the Word signify the truths that lead to good, or in the opposite sense the falsities that lead to evil; and for the same reason "going", "walking", and "journeying" in the Word signify progressions of life. 1 Such ways I have often been permitted to see, also spirits going and walking in them freely, in accord with their affections and the thoughts therefrom.
Footnotes:
1. [Swedenborg's footnote] In the Word "to journey", as well as "to go", signifies progression of life (Arcana Coelestia 3335, 4375, 4554, 4585, 4882, 5493, 5605, 5996, 8181, 8345, 8397, 8417, 8420, 8557).
"To go (and to walk) with the Lord" means to receive spiritual life, and to live with Him (Arcana Coelestia 10567).
"To walk" means to live (Arcana Coelestia 519, 1794, 8417, 8420).
