When John uses this term “firstborn from the dead” to describe who the Lord Jesus is, he is not speaking of Him as the first one to be raised from the dead. There were those in the Old Testament who had been raised from the dead, such as the son of the woman from Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–24), or the son of the Shulamite (2 Ki. 4), or even the man who touched Elisha’s bones (2 Ki. 13). In the New Testament we learn of Jairus’s daughter, the son of the widow of Nain, and of Lazarus—all were raised from the dead.

But here in our verse, we learn that our Lord is the firstborn from the dead. This word has the thought of first in rank and dignity, or position. It does not mean firstborn in time, but in preeminence. The Lord Jesus takes the highest station. This comes out clearly in a messianic psalm: “I will make Him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (Ps. 89:27).

The next thing we read concerning the Lord Jesus is that He is “the ruler over the kings of the earth.” Having been exalted above all, He is Ruler over all the kings of the earth! He is Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 17:14). This will be made evident to all in a coming day, when Christ returns at His glorious appearing (19:11–16). The Lord Jesus is and will be seen as the sovereign King of the earth, as prophesied throughout the Old Testament (Ps. 2:6–8; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 9:9).

In verses 4 and 5, John has given several reasons to worship the Lord Jesus. He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings on the earth. Our blessed Lord is to be worshiped because of the glory of His Person and the glory of what He has accomplished!