Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:18
18. He that liveth With an underived essential life, the fountain of life, from which all finite life is a stream. Was dead Became dead. A contradiction in terms, harmonized in the real history. Alive for evermore Death shall never come into his future history. Through death he has attained a dominion over human destiny. Keys The symbols of possession or authority over treasures, or cities, or kingdoms. Of hell… death This reading, which is spurious, reverses the true order, which... read more
Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.And he that liveth — Another peculiar title of God.And I have the keys of death and of hades — That is, the invisible world. In the intermediate state, the body abides in death, the soul in hades. Christ hath the keys of, that is, the power over, both; killing or quickening of the body, and disposing of the soul, as it pleaseth him. He gave St. Peter the keys of the kingdom of... read more