Satan Desired More Exalted Honors Which God Bestowed Upon His Son

Before he fell, Satan wanted Christ’s position. Because he could not have it, he became desperate, rebelled, and was cast out of heaven. Because he was restrained from carrying out his plans, he decided that he would be his own god….But the Lord, yes, Our God, will be Ruler of the heavens and the earth. If men and women will carry out His requirements, it will be seen that He is Ruler, carrying out His divine will. — {25LtMs, Lt 114, 1910, par. 12,13}

Satan, who was once an honored angel in Heaven, had been ambitious for the more exalted honors which God had bestowed upon his Son. He became envious of Christ, and represented to the angels who honored him as covering cherub that he had not the honor conferred upon him which his position demanded. He asserted that he should be exalted equal in honor with God. Satan obtained sympathizers. Angels in Heaven joined him in his rebellion, and fell with their leader from their high and holy estate, and were therefore expelled with him from Heaven. — {RH February 24, 1874, par. 2}

Jesus was made one with God. His exaltation created envy and jealousy in Satan’s heart. Satan insisted that God had not dealt with him justly. He criticized God’s plan of government. He declared the divine law to be arbitrary, detrimental to the interests of the heavenly universe, and in need of change.  — {17LtMs, Ms 1, 1902, par. 2}

He [Lucifer] commenced war in heaven for the preeminence, worked with the angels until they were deceived, and concluded they would war against God. But the [loyal angels] would not yield the point that Christ should have the preeminence next to God. And there was war in heaven. — {25LtMs, Ms 90, 1910}