God promised His people that one day we would see the King in His beauty, and a land that is afar off.
The Revelation depicts that land as God's glorious heaven, the New Jerusalem. It is a place of vast physical splendor, but the Lamb is the real glory in it!
The Revelation also gives glimpses of the King in His Beauty. John saw Jesus bright and shining in glory, so fierce that John fell to the ground terrified. Jesus projected great authority, strength, and power.
But note the tenderness and care of Jesus, when He told John to fear not! The basis for this command is then recited by Jesus: His incarnation, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, never again to die.
Most blessed for the saints, Christ exclaims that He has the keys of hell and of death. It is most appropriate that Jesus should show this to John, since John was the gospel writer who most clearly described Jesus' promises to save His people from judgment and death.
He promised He would save whoever trusts in Him unto eternal life. No doubt many wondered how Jesus could be so sure of His promises to us.
Now John sees Jesus in power and glory, and reminded of Christ's offering for sin and His victory over the grave, our Savior tells us He has got the keys to the places we would have been locked away in by our sin.
Jesus has the keys! He's in charge of the very terror that He promised to save us from! So long as Jesus has those keys, hell and death can never confine God's people.
This gives a whole new understanding of the Old Testament promises, that Jesus quoted with approval, that He would let loose the prisoners, and free the captives!
He has the keys to let go all who trust in Him!