D&C 77

As the Prophet Joseph Smith continued to provide answers to questions concerning the revelations fo John, he was asked -

"Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation?..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 77:14)

Whereby the Prophet explained -

"...A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 77:14)

Obviously, this little book was in refernce to John and his mission.  This reminded me of my blog on the Book of Revelation where I commented -

"...I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals." (New Testament | Revelation 5:1)

...suggesting that this book contained the events of the seven thousand years or in other words, the plan of salvation, John also records -

"...I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open..." (New Testament | Revelation 10:1 - 2)

And the angel instructed John -

"...Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 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." (New Testament | Revelation 10:8 - 9)

Being the book with the seven seals was the plan of salvation of all men, I sensed this small book was a specific plan or calling particularly for John. I could almost compare this to a patriarchal blessing. At this time, John must have been in his nineties. A very aged man. We learn a little bit more of what must have been in the book as the Lord talks to three faithful disciples of the Nephites -

"...I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.
9 And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand." (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 28:6 - 9)

Thus not only would his work be sweet, but also the bitterness in the belly that John would experience then would be the sorrow for the sins of the world.