Is SAT is in NL?( under certain conditions)
The certificate could have linear size, and you need to remember it for the entire verification process. That is, you need to store in on the work tape and reference it as you read the clauses. You can't guess a satisfying assignment for each clause separately - under this model, every 3CNF is satisfiable. The oracle tape is consumed by each read - you can't go back and reread a previous symbol, which might be what's confusing you.