Jacob's prophecy: Ben or Locke?

OK, this is my first theory on this site, and it's been taking shape in my head since the finale. Some of it may seem to be old news, but there is a point if you read to the end.

Jacob (whoever that is) left a prophecy with the others that specified some sort of succession of guardians who would lead the others and protect the island at any cost.

The prophecy: a child would be born prematurely to a woman named Emily and subsequently left motherless. This child would eventually go on to kill his own father (in service to the island). This person would also change the bearings to the island to keep it protected, and eventually leave the island in order to save it. This person would also have a grandchild who would one day be called to serve the island. Finally, I think the prophecy may have also mentioned that this person would suffer a life threatening "danger" to the spine, but would miraculously recover.

So, all signs pointed to Ben for a while, but we know that Richard and many of the others wanted a change. Perhaps Ben got too violent, power hungry, etc. and his life didn't mirror the ideals the others held so closely to their hearts. I believe Richard started to think that maybe he (and the others) had gotten it wrong. Maybe Ben wasn't the chosen one after all, so he started investigating (through time) to see about other children born under similar circumstances....until he puts two and two together and realizes that the "true heir" is none other than John Locke, who just happens to have crashed on the island.

Ben could see the writing on the wall, but he chose to remain in denial. After all, he had his nagging doubts...there's the matter of Alex not technically being his daughter, so how can he have a grandchild? Well, maybe Jacob speaks in symbolism, and he thought since Alex was his daughter in his heart, that she was really his child. We all know that DNA doesn't make a parent. Plus, he had just miraculously been saved from death via spinal cancer...on the verge of being inoperable (I think that bought him some time w/the others, who may have already had their doubts at that point). So, he fights on despite being disheartened by his followers' newfound lack of faith in him. He even brings Locke's father to the island to see if Locke would kill him. Ben knew Locke wasn't the type of man who could do such a thing, so he held it up to the others as proof that Locke wasn't the one Jacob's prophecy was referring to, noting that "he's not who we thought he was."

As soon as Locke came marching in with his father's dead body in tow, the tide shifted in favor of Locke, in the eyes of the others, and they probably secretly devised an orderly plan for the changing of the guard. This was before Keamy and his crew arrived, which threw everything into emergency mode. Ben, still believing that he was "the one," was in complete shock when Alex was killed. He shock was twofold: shock at losing his daughter and shock that his entire life on the island might have been a sham. He now had a complete crisis of faith that he may not be "the one." With Alex dead, he'd have no chance at having a grandchild (and I'm assuming the prophecy must make reference to a certain age or time period in regards to his child...thus eliminating the possibility that he goes off island and has another child). He was a nobody who had sacrificed everything in service to Jacob and the island, and all the thanks he gets is watching his daughter brutally murdered in front of his eyes and getting fired by Alpert. At least Alpert was nice enough to do him one last favor by saving his life.

So here's where it gets tricky. I think we'll eventually find out that part of the prophecy involved "the one" changing the bearings to get to the island (I don't think it was technically moved. I think somehow Ben pushing the wheel altered the electromagnetic field around the island while simultaneously ejecting him into another time in Tunisia.) If you're interested in the details please see my theory:

https://losties.darkbb.com/big-theories-f7/jack-aces-island-101-on-hydra-island-and-knows-how-to-get-back-t543.htm

Maybe Ben and/or the others didn't even know about that part of the prophecy. So was Locke supposed to be the one to change the bearings? After all, he did say "wait until you see what I'm about to do." I think Locke was in fact curious as to why he wasn't the one to move it, but Ben made a reference to the fact that Jacob didn't tell him how to do it. Right, like it was so difficult to kick a hole in the floor and turn a wheel. Ben also pointed out that whoever "moved the island" could never return. I'm on the fence about whether or not this is true. I'm leaning towards believing that Ben lied and he only told Locke that to get him out of the way. Think about it...what's the easiest lie you could tell Locke in that situation to keep him from insisting on "moving the island" himself? Tell him he can't come back to his precious island. If this was in fact a lie, it's 100% consistent with Ben's behavior this season, as the writers have gone out of their way to point this out in several episodes.

I just think it will end up being very significant that Ben changed the bearings, not Locke. I think after Ben got over the shock of Alex's death, he gathered himself together and kept on trucking. I think he still believes he's "the chosen one," and will figure out a way to prove it to Alpert others. Eventually, there will be a battle of wills between Locke and Ben, and I can see Ben saying, "Don't you remember? I'm the one who 'moved the island' John, you didn't do anything." Yes, we all felt sorry for Ben shedding tears as he turned the wheel, but don't forget that Ben is ALWAYS right where he wants to be, and he ALWAYS has a plan. Remember also, he had just suffered a severe injury to his arm, so it could have been quite painful to push that wheel...may have been the source of the tears.

So Ben time travels to Tunisia, and we don't know what fate has in store for Ben, other than the fact that he is still on a mission to protect the island at all costs, but what is his motivation? If I were Ben, why in hell would I care what happened to the island, the others, etc.? The island took everything and everyone he ever cared about (Annie, Alex, and Juliet never actually worked out either). But Ben, even though he has been cast out and betrayed by the others, has faith that he's the chosen one and trusts that Jacob works in mysterious ways. Something has to be the game changer for Ben, and that will be his discovery that he has a son: Thomas (Claire's ex and father of Aaron, and I know that's already been widely speculated about). I think during or even before we find out about the Ben/Thomas connection we will also find out that Locke has a love child, thus solidifying it in the viewer's mind that Locke is the person in the prophecy. Perhaps when the others share the prophecy with Locke, he'll find out he has a son and will become hell bent to get off the island. If I could think of one thing that would lure Locke away from his beloved island it would be this revelation.

Finally, there's one piece of evidence that has to come out: As we know, Locke didn't actually kill his father, Sawyer did, and the others don't know that. I think this is just as significant as who changed the bearings, and whether or not Alex is Ben's daughter. It all relates to Jacob's prophecy. So who is "the one"? It's Ben, and it's been him all along. He just lost faith................................or did he???


Rip it to shreds!

kristenislost wrote:
Finally, there's one piece of evidence that has to come out: As we know, Locke didn't actually kill his father, Sawyer did, and the others don't know that. I think this is just as significant as who moved the island, and whether or not Alex is Ben's daughter. It all relates to Jacob's prophecy. So who is "the one"? It's Ben, and it's been him all along. He just lost faith................................or did he???


Rip it to shreds!

I am amazed at how well you explained your theory. Many of the points you brought out made sense to me. No shredding.

What a great theory. When I saw a long post i was like "ugh", but I really enjoyed reading it.

A fantastic theory. I have a couple questions:

Where does your line of reasoning for a grandchild as an element of the prophecy come from?

Isn't Alpert pretty much in the know that Locke didn't kill Anthony Cooper? He pretty much set up the Sawyer part for John.

I think this theory is pretty awesome.

Caged Faraday: My theory for the grandchild element comes from Ben's relationship with Alex, his reaction to her death, the fact that she is referred to as his daughter juxtaposed against Rousseau's claim that she isn't his daughter-it's one of several themes of the show where something seems one way but is technically another. In other words, why bring attention to the fact that she isn't his daughter (I think it was this season when Rousseau reminds us of this fact), when we all pretty much know that? I'm also kind of piecing this together from the fact that since I went back and looked at Thomas on Lostpedia that he looks exactly like Ben...that and Aaron being so important to the show it kind of all fits together. I think it could impact the Ben/Widmore relationship also. Since Thomas's painting was in Widmore's office, is it possible that Widmore has raised Thomas as his own son? Did Widmore end up with Annie somehow? If that's the case does Widmore know that Thomas isn't his biological son? How much does Penny know, is she Annie's other daughter, and did you notice the scene with her holding and gushing over Aaron in the finale (she could be his aunt)? I swear it all could add up so easily!!

And the Sawyer part, I couldn't remember what he told Locke exactly...did he specifically reference Sawyer or did we just infer that? If Alpert did reference Sawyer, then two things could be true: Alpert is in on the whole thing with Ben, or Alpert's morality is in line with the idea that manipulating someone to kill another person is technically murder. Maybe he thought that if Locke set up Sawyer to do it, he was just as "guilty" as Sawyer. Think about it...didn't you feel a little different about Locke after he did that? Even if he didn't actually kill his father, he definitely dug his grave. Those are just my initial thoughts, but I'll have to think about that, though. Good point.

Great theory KristenLost. I loved all the evidence that you put in with it. I thought that there was something weird about Jack saying 'Locke didn't move the island' then where did it go! I never thought about the prophecy like that. Ben moves the island instead of Locke, a feat that on the outside looks heroic but really is a last attempt to still be leader. Maybe now we finally know why Ben stole Alex as a child and why he was so instistant that she was his.

this theory is great i couldn't shred it if i tried plus +1

Nicely put! We all knew there were several things about Ben and Locke where they are alike. But I like this theory. It sounds plausible.

brilliant theory mate!!! Only thing is, I kind of hope it doesn't come to fruition, mainly because I want John to be the main man - I was devasted to see him in the coffin !!!!!

Van, I know!! Locke is by far my favorite character, and I actually broke down in tears when I saw him in the coffin!!! I read someone else's theory on another site that said maybe he had taken the spider venom (remember from nikki and paolo) to appear dead, or something along the lines of the duplicated bunnies and there's actually another Locke. Who knows with this show. Either way I think there's enough material for us to see him in final 2 seasons...it's doubtful that they would kill off the only Emmy award winning actor in the cast before it's all over.