Ok so I came up with this theory... it made sense in my head... and when I tried to type it out, I got confused, and LOST ha ha but check it out
Alright, so I just came up with this theory that I think makes the most sense. I also think I'd be okay if this happens.
So based on the last episode Ab Aeterno, we pretty much found out many things. Some clear, some not so clear. The man in black tells Richard that they are in hell, Richard tells the other Losties they are in hell... now I don't think they are in hell, but are they that far off?
Basically all series long we were shown flashbacks of a past life for the characters. With the exception of Hurley, everyone had a troubled past or could be seen as sinners. The Island is more or less a chance for them to redeem themselves. Jacob tells us this in the most current episode. He says something along the lines of, "I bring them here to prove him wrong, regardless of their past, they can do good, learn the difference between right and wrong." Yet he doesn't intervene, it is up to the person to choose between right and wrong, and distinguish between the two. So where am I going with this?
There have been several times through the series we see the Smoke Monster AKA Smokey AKA Man in Black somewhat pass over someone. In some instances they are saved, and in some instances they are killed. In season 5 Ben says he needs to be judged by Smokey. Although Smokey had an ulterior motive, Ben appears to have been judged, and passes the test. In the latest episode, after the slave ship crashes on the Island, smokey kills basically everyone but Richard. Yet it kind of passes over Richard, and lets him live. Richard killed a man off the Island in an accident, and was trying to save his wife, smokey saw he was good natured and sparred his life.
Is the Island the final step before the afterlife? One last chance to redeem yourself? And if you fail on the Island, you are killed and go to hell. If you redeem yourself, or are seen as good natured, you get a second chance? Or are able to pass on too heaven? This is where it gets murky as we have seen people get off the Island, and obviously some people discovered the Island. Any ideas?
I started thinking back to the season 4 episode, "The Constant." In this episode, Desmond's mind is jumping back in forth between his life off the Island, and his life on the Island. He is somehow able to change his past, and salvage things with Penny. Eventually Desmond gets off the Island, and has his happily ever after, or so it seems. He reunites with his wife, has a family, and as far as we know, is done with the Island.
It almost seems like Jacob and Man in Black have jobs on the Island. Why did Man in Black let Richard live? Why did he originally let Eko live, but then killed him later on? Is the Island a final place of judgement. Is it even a real physical place? Or do people go there mentally when they are more or less about to meet the light at the end of the tunnel? The more I think about this, the more it makes zero sense. Yet at the same time it makes tons of sense.
What do you guys think?