ISB ~ Revelation 1 v5

the first-born:The risen humanity of Jesus is the 1 first specimen of God’s new creation (21:5).

• Jesus is described in the words of Ps 89:27, where Yahweh promises to exalt the messianic heir of David over every world ruler. This was fulfilled in Christ, who became “King of kings” (Rev 19:16) through his Resurrection and Ascension into heaven (Acts 2:2936). See note on Rom 1:3.

• Christ is called the first-born of the dead, not because he died before we did, but because he suffered death for us and was the first to rise again. Since he has risen, we too shall rise again through him (St. Athanasius, Discourses against the Arians 2, 61).