Remember Miss Hawking when she was talking to Desmond…she told Desmond about the guy in red shoes and she said something like whatever is supposed to happen will happen and even if the man is saved from death universe would course correct to ensure he dies. This applied to Charlie. Desmond saw what was supposed to happen and saved Charlie many different times. However because it was supposed to happen it happened. Even if Charlie didn't choose to die a hero’s death and hadn’t believed Desmond he would still die a while later. Desmond could see the future that was supposed to happen. As if the universe according to what we do in the present time lays out a short term plan for us with a certain objective. This objective is to be fulfilled. If our present actions changed the circumstances the universe would change its plan for us to ensure that the same objective is still achieved. In other words the objective of the universe is to fulfil the individual objectives it has for each of us through whatever means possible. So we can change the future but then the universe would still achieve what it plans for us only in a different way.
Locke told Jack they are not supposed to leave. We know now that this is because they were present in the past of the island. So whatever happened in the future they would end up in that point in past and live the life they have lived in the past. The difference is that our losties don’t know yet what has happened in the past because in their biological time line it is their future although in past. Now that Desmond’s action postponed Charlie’s death and Charlie cracked the code in the glass station and the O6 left the island, universe would do anything to ensure they are back there to avoid paradox. People like Ben and Miss Hawking know that but they want to make sure that universe doesn't choose a harsh method to do this. So they did their parts in convincing the O6 to go back. Even Widmore who is against Ben knows this and helps in this objective.
Now since one can travel back in time on the island paradoxes can happen. If for example Dharma guys believed Saiid and found out about the purge and tried to avoid it, it would still happen. The catch is that Saiid telling the Dharma at point A, Dharma believing him at point B and trying things to stop the purge at point C always happened and always purge could not be avoided at point D. This is different from the case about Desmond and universe changing its plans towards a certain objective. In past whatever happened, happened. If saiid decided to kill Ben this is what always happened and if he killed Ben it is what always happened too. But saiid decided to kill Ben because he knew of future Ben so there must be a future Ben. Two ways this is possible either Ben doesn't die or that he gets reincarnated. I tend to go with the later and I explain why.
Ben is a liar and we all know that! But something always bothered me …. He said he was born on the island. We know Ethen was but not Ben!! Somehow I always thought it is as if the others also think/knew he has been born on the island and this bothered me. Was he conning them? Maybe! But now I tend to think differently.
I think Ben was truthful for once and he was indeed born on the island. Not born from a mother but born as in being reincarnated after dying. Saiid is a professional killer. How can he miss the vital point? Little Ben must be dead being shot from that range. We all remember the van he was driving in the little prince episode with words reincarnated on it. We thought this related to Locke and it did. But maybe it also related to Ben.
Reincarnation is another funny way of course correction by the universe. Locke was incarnated because at some point he has to exist in the past on the island and Ben was reincarnated because his presence on the island in the future could only be a cause for Saiid to kill him.
That's the time line for Locke and Widmore only. Sorry couldn't do any better! I hope I've made it clear enough.
