Consider a similar statement: "Bob's assignment to lead the project was the beginning of its success."

Clearly, Bob isn't "the project"; rather, Bob is the reason, the Cause, of the project.

Similarly, Christ is the Cause of Creation (c.f. John 1:3), the "chief" not in the sense of the preeminent creature, but the one through whom Creation was accomplished. (That this is the correct sense is backed up by the only instance in Scripture in which "ἀρχὴ" is not translated as "beginning". In Luke 20:20, where it has the form "ἀρχῇ", it is translated "rule" and appears in the context of the Jewish head priests seeking "to deliver [Jesus] to the rule (ἀρχῇ) and to the authority of the governor.")

One of the definitions of the English word "beginning" is "that which begins or originates something; the source or first cause". In light of ἀρχὴ's use in Scripture and what else Scripture has to say about Christ, it seems clear that this sense is an acceptable interpretation of Revelation 3:14b.

Consider a similar statement: "Bob's assignment to lead the project was the beginning of its success."

Clearly, Bob isn't "the project"; rather, Bob is the reason, the Cause, of the [outcome of the] project.

Similarly, Christ is the Cause of Creation (c.f. John 1:3), the "chief" not in the sense of the preeminent creature, but the one through whom Creation was accomplished. (That this is the correct sense is backed up by the only instance in Scripture in which "ἀρχὴ" is not translated as "beginning". In Luke 20:20, where it has the form "ἀρχῇ", it is translated "rule" and appears in the context of the Jewish head priests seeking "to deliver [Jesus] to the rule (ἀρχῇ) and to the authority of the governor.")

One of the definitions of the English word "beginning" is "that which begins or originates something; the source or first cause". In light of ἀρχὴ's use in Scripture and what else Scripture has to say about Christ, it seems clear that this sense is an acceptable interpretation of Revelation 3:14b.