What does Revelation 20 1-3 really mean?

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Revelation 20:1-3 really means that the author had a vision of the Devil in chains being consigned to hell for a thousand years. The question implies that whatever Revelation 20:1-3 really means must be a statement of fact or a prediction that must come true. This is not the case - had Revelation not been included in The Bible, no one would even consider regarding it as in any way infallible. Although signed by 'John' and traditionally attributed to the disciple John, the second century Roman teacher, Gaius, called Revelation 'heretical' and claimed that it was written by John's worst enemy, Cerinthus. The Christian historian, Eusebius (260-340 CE), also called Revelation'spurious'.

Recognising Revelation as a book written by an unknown 'John' of Patmos, and recognising that it could easily have been omitted from the New Testament, we should not try to read too much into its stories.