Did Satan misrepresent God's government because he hated God's character? Or did Satan misrepresent God's character because he hated God's government?

He was envious of Christ, and hated Him. He hated God's character, because He hated Him. The same thing could be said in regards to His law (or government; that is, Satan hated God's law, or character, or government, because he hated Him.)

Did Satan misrepresent God's government because he hated God's character? Or did Satan misrepresent God's character because he hated God's government?

Chapter I. - The Fall of Satan.

The Lord has shown me that Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Jesus Christ. His countenance was mild, expressive of happiness like the other angels. His forehead was high and broad, and showed great intelligence. His form was perfect. He had a noble, majestic bearing. And I saw that when God said to his Son, Let us make man in our image, Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man. He was filled with envy, jealousy and hatred. He wished to be the highest in heaven, next to God, and receive the highest honors. Until this time all heaven was in order, harmony and perfect subjection to the government of God. {1SG 17.1}
It was the highest sin to rebel against the order and will of God. All heaven seemed in commotion. The angels were marshaled in companies with a commanding angel at their head. All the angels were astir. Satan was insinuating against the government of God, ambitious to exalt himself, and unwilling to submit
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to the authority of Jesus. Some of the angels sympathized with Satan in his rebellion, and others strongly contended for the honor and wisdom of God in giving authority to his Son. And there was contention with the angels. Satan and his affected ones, who were striving to reform the government of God, wished to look into his unsearchable wisdom to ascertain his purpose in exalting Jesus, and endowing him with such unlimited power and command. They rebelled against the authority of the Son of God, and all the angels were summoned to appear before the Father, to have their cases decided. And it was decided that Satan should be expelled from heaven, and that the angels, all who joined with Satan in the rebellion, should be turned out with him. Then there was war in heaven. Angels were engaged in the battle; Satan wished to conquer the Son of God, and those who were submissive to his will. But the good and true angels prevailed, and Satan, with his followers, was driven from heaven. {1SG 17.2}

No, Tom: you fail to combine God's character and law as inseparable and yet distinct truths. He challenged God's law, and when that failed, he maligned his character for the sake of overthrowing his law and government: it's principle and reality working together, not one or the other. Your purely logical explanation shows you need plenty more than pure logic, so you miss the whole picture.

Gordon,

You may have an older EGW search which puts your search terms in caps. Those caps are not in the original. Here's a copy/paste from the EGW 2008 CD.

Chapter I. - The Fall of Satan.

"And I saw that when GOD said to his SON, Let us make man in our image, Satan was jealous of JESUS...

Until this time all heaven was in order, harmony and perfect subjection to the government of GOD...

It was the highest sin to rebel against the order and will of GOD."

Spiritual Gifts Vol. 1, opening page. Caps in original.

Sorry Green, I'm a little old-fashioned.

These caps are in the book - a photofacsimile reproduction of the original 1858 Great Controversy as published by James White - an exact replica re-issued by R&H in 1945, bound in black hardcover.

The CDs don't seem very authentic, but thanks for letting me know.

The key here is why was Lucifer jealous? "He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man," she says.