The reason for his arrest and imprisonment is “that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” Here it is imperative to note that John was permitted to see the present vision directly after the previous vision of the white horse (Revelation 19:11–21). The Rider of the white horse conquered with the sword of the Word, the truth of the gospel. By the gracious ordinance of God, that gospel had to go out to the ends of the earth so that all those chosen to life might repent and believe, which is the motif of the new dispensation (Matthew 28:19–20). The deceiver would love to oppose every spread of the gospel with his lies. With the present passage the Holy Spirit assures John and his readers that the great Liar cannot himself sow his lies in the face of the gospel. See also 2 Thessalonians 2:6.
3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.