This question brings us back to the imperatives found sprinkled throughout this section: pay back, repay, mix, give (Revelation 18:6). The Lord God created people to “have dominion” over his world (Genesis 1:26) and restored us to that position in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:6). So the faithful in Thyatira were told that God would “give [them] authority over the nations…even as [Jesus Christ] received authority” (Revelation 2:26–27). That authority includes the ability to execute God’s judgments (Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 25:19; Psalm 149:6; Proverbs 21:12). The people of God may/must do what their hands find to do in their circumstances to push back evil in their own neighbourhoods and communities, implement laws and policies that execute God-glorifying justice, etc.
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”