Lucifer is one of the most morally ambiguous characters in all of history. If you look at it strictly from the religious texts, he wants nothing more than to return to heaven, by any means necessary. As we see in Supernatural lore, Metatron wanted the same thing (to be near God). Lucifer is the kind of character who more has no morality. If saving a thousand souls would get him back, he'd do it. But, if he can't, why should everyone else enjoy it?
I don't see lucifer as "evil," more as a spoiled brat who can't get what he wants, so he does his best to flip over the whole game board. Reading Paradise Lost will give a good view of him as a potential character as well I believe.
The funny thing is, most people completely misinterpret his on power, he doesn't rule hell (at least, not based on real world myth). He suffers there just like anyone else. In strict christian and catholic dogma, he's really not even among the 10 most powerful beings in the universe. But, he's smarter and more charismatic than most of them.