^10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ATE it,

This act is one of "digesting" the Word of God. The fact that it is a "little book" may mean it was all that John could handle of the great knowledge of God. When Jesus was tempted on the physical level, He replied in the spiritual, Matthew 4:1-11. If Christ quoted scripture to repel the devil, how much more we need to know God's Word to repel the devil.

God's words are sweet, Jeremiah 15:15-18. But they also are distressing because they carry the responsibility to prophesy (see next verse).

and it was in my MOUTH SWEET as HONEY; and when I had EATEN it, my stomach was made bitter.

There is GREAT JOY in understanding SALVATION (John 3:36). The converse is also true: REJECTING CHRIST brings JUDGMENT (Mark 16:16).

The first half of the tribulation period for raptured believers apparently will be a time for observation and preparation for service. The second half requires their full participation (symbolically the stomach as the seat of energy).