28. Que o "Filho do homem" signifique o Senhor quanto à Palavra, era porque os profetas também foram chamados "filhos do homem." Que os profetas sejam chamados "filhos do homem", era porque representavam o Senhor quanto à Palavra e, daí, significavam a doutrina da igreja proveniente da Palavra. No céu, onde os profetas são nomeados na Palavra, não se entende outra coisa. Com efeito, a significação espiritual de "profeta" e também de "filho do homem" é a doutrina da igreja proveniente da Palavra e, quando se trata do Senhor, é a Palavra mesma. Que o profeta Daniel tenha sido chamado "filho do homem", veja-se no seu livro (Daniel 8:17). Que o profeta Ezequiel tenha sido chamado "filho do homem", veja-se no seu livro (Ezequiel 2:1, 3, 6, 8; Ezequiel 3:1, 3-4, 10, 17, 25; Ezequiel 4:1, 16; Ezequiel 5:1; Ezequiel 6:2; Ezequiel 7:2; Ezequiel 8:5-6, 8, 12, 15; Ezequiel 11:2, 4, 15; Ezequiel 12:2-3, 9, 18, 22, 27; Ezequiel 13:2, 17; Ezequiel 14:3, 13; Ezequiel 15:2; Ezequiel 16:2; Ezequiel 17:2; Ezequiel 20:3-4, 27, 46; Ezequiel 21:2, 6, 9, 12, 14, 19, 28; Ezequiel 22:18, 24; Ezequiel 23:2, 36; Ezequiel 24:2, 16, 25; Ezequiel 25:2; Ezequiel 26:2; Ezequiel 27:2; Ezequiel 28:2, 12, 21; Ezequiel 29:2, 18; Ezequiel 30:2, 21; Ezequiel 31:2; Ezequiel 32:2, 18; Ezequiel 33:2, 7, 10, 12, 24, 30; Ezequiel 34:2; Ezequiel 35:2; Ezequiel 36:1, 17; Ezequiel 37:3, 9, 11; 16; Ezequiel 38:2, 14; Ezequiel 39:1, 17; Ezequiel 40:4; Ezequiel 43:7, 10, 18; Ezequiel 44:5). Por aí é agora evidente que o Senhor quanto ao Divino Humano é chamado "Filho de Deus" e, quanto à Palavra, "Filho do homem."

Space and time in the physical world correspond to states of life in the spiritual world. When the Bible talks about someone being “old,” the internal meaning has to do with the progression of spiritual life. And just as elderly people in the physical world tend to be pretty settled in their ideas about life and their place in the scheme of things, the spiritual state described by “old” is one of confirmation and completion -- a state in which a person's ideas have fully crystallized, they are confirmed in who they are and what they believe and think, and they are ready to move on to a new state. As with all things, these representations can be positive or negative -- people can be confirmed in evil loves and the lies that support them just as well as they can be confirmed in love of the Lord or love of the neighbor and the truths that spring from them.