Why is the book which John is given in the Revelation both sweet and bitter?

“And I went unto the Angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey” Revelation 10:9

The little book is the writing of the vision John is seeing that later becomes the book of Revelation. The Angel is telling him to give him that book.

Taking and eating the book means, John should meditate on all that he has seen and was spoken to him. The bitterness of the book is because the judgments during the tribulation that he sees in the vision are devastating to man and John as a man empathizes.

The little book opened in Jesus’ hand, is the book Jesus took out of Gods right hand (Rev. 5:7). Jesus feet on the earth and the sea, represent his right to have dominion over the world. It is also the ultimate realization of what happens to men who do not repent, it is bitter.

“eat that I give thee” Ezekiel 2:7–8

This refers to meditation on the Lord’s word, to understand it. Prophetic words are always bittersweet, because a pruning always takes place before the bloom. The sweet aspect of these prophecies, visions and writings are to know that wrongs will be made right. It is sweet to know and see that Jesus will be glorified in the world and His enemies will see Him lifted up. It is sweet that all the suffering of men that Love the Lord will end (Ezekiel 3:3–4).