Ash and Repentance
+12 12 Votes
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By tr41c
- Ash and Repentance
- Created: May 5, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 4.10: Something Nice Back Home
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
— tr41c
In reference to the ash surrounding Jacob’s cabin. Ash in the Bible is a symbol of repentance. Repentance is the only means of approaching God. Ash is used in the church as a symbol of repentance on the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday); Lent is a time of preparation for drawing near to God. Is it possible that the only way to approach Jacob is in a spirit of repentance. If Smokey (Possibly a symbol of the Holy Spirit) is an extension of Jacob (God the Father) -and it is interesting that the only other occasion on which we see a ring of protection (the perimeter fence) it is related to Smokey- then this would make sense of why Eko gets it when he refuses to repent.
In fact Ben’s need to have Locke come to the cabin because Jacob talks to Locke is very similar to the story in I Samuel (Old Testament) of Eli (the High Priest of Israel) and Samuel. Because Eli will not repent of his failure to discipline his two sons God no longer speaks with Eli in the temple. God only speaks to Eli and the rest of Israel through righteous young Samuel who lives at the temple.
This possible reference to I Samuel is also interesting because it is in 1 Samuel 7 that we find King David (who will be anointed by Samuel) asking to build God a “Temple”. He will be told by God that he can’t build it but his coming son will build it. The immediate reference is to Solomon who will build the earthly temple that the Jews will worship God in. But Christians also see a reference here to the third person of the Trinity (the greater Son of David) Jesus. We know there is a temple on the Island and it is only for the chosen ones on the list. Read Revelation 20-22 which speaks of the temple that Christ will provide at the end of time and you will discover it is also only for those whose names are recorded in a book.
Revelation 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Note that the Lord Himself becomes the temple in Revelation.
It should also possibly be noted that in the Bible David, Solomon, and Jesus are all direct descendants of the patriarch Jacob.
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob’s Cabin | 4.1, 3.20 | 166 |
echo, echo, echo!!
Great thoughts (+1). I do however wonder how this repentence came into play when smokey stood face to face with Locke, or tried to pull him into that hole, or when it went after Kate and Juliet. But i whole-heartedly agree that smokey is an extension of Jacob, and like the idea that Smokey is sent out to enforce the ethical or moral code that Jacob decrees.
Sorry, I changed it Chris. You are right to chastise me - names on this show are very important.
clever connection between the names in the book referenced in Revelations and Jacob’s list. +1
I think you spelled it right the first time. It’s Eko.
Thanks highbrow, I changed it back.
Very good point about Mr. Eko and his lack of repentance in connection with the ash and Jacob.
A good post, but man I hope you’re wrong, because religion is so lame.
actually, I wasn’t referring to the name. In fact I think Eko is correct. I was simply poking innocent fun at the fact that the original paragraph was written twice. I thought it was funny,,, sort of. Good points though. I like the thought, and while I don’t read the bible, because it’s a contrived piece of junk, you’ve pulled out some great analogies.
Chris, I don’t know how that repeat happened. Thanks for your encouragement.
Chris, I don’t know how that repeat happened. Thanks for your encouragement.
so ben failed to repent and realizing jacob wouldnt talk to him, set locke up to beat mikhail to a pulp and then agree to see jacob in response, so locke could find it for him and tell ben what he said? i definitely like the part about ben needing locke to talk to jacob. i’m with you so far…
but why cant locke see it now? what did he do wrong? and why did hurley see it? what was he repenting for?
also, i lose you when you say the protection fence is evidence that “smokey” is an extension of jacob. jacob’s cabin is surrounded by ash, but smokey is not enclosed in the fence, the fence protects those inside from smokey. also, how does the fence relate to eko getting it for not repenting? or are you just saying that failure to be repentant results in either 1) jacob ignoring you, 2) smokey killing you?
i really like the parts of this corrolating purity of heart with jacob revealing hiimself to you, but i have to admit i don’t see the connection with smokey and jacob. to be fair, though, i am biased a little: i think it is some sort of controllable security system, and i think the fact that it tried to pull locke into the ground supports that now that we have seen ben emerge covered in dirt followed immediately by smokey coming to him. i think ben was using it to capture locke (down wherever ben went) and have more control over him with regard to jacob than he does now. even if my opinion is accurate, though, that certainly doesn’t mean that, like anything else on the island, jacob cannot control it…
its gun powder f ucker not ash watch the show locke smells it and says gunpowder dur
TR, Awesome connection to the ‘Ash’ surrounding Jacob’s cabin.
The biblical connections pertaining to “The Temple” are very interesting as well. +1
FYI Sh*thead, You can take your big flippers out of your mouth anytime now.
From Lostpedia
Before approaching the house on his visit, Locke noticed there was a line of gray ash. He inspected the substance, but was hurried by Ben. (“The Man Behind the Curtain”)
According to commentary for “The Man Behind the Curtain” on the Season 3 DVD by producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, the circle of ash is “a bit of a kind of protection or magic or kind of containment. Ben is afraid to touch it. In a certain way, part of the idea here is that Ben has some powers over Jacob, and Jacob has some powers over Ben, and there is a bit of a stasis.”
Also of interest, when we see Claire’s sleeping bag on the morning after she disappears, it has ash on it. Check it out.
I like it a lot. Good post.+1
Ok Apple… I checked it out. I don’t think that’s ash… looks like mud or bird crap…
Highbrow — I laughed out loud :)
According to commentary for “The Man Behind the Curtain” on the Season 3 DVD by producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, the circle of ash is “a bit of a kind of protection or magic or kind of containment.
Ash or powder is used in the Voodoo religion as a magical barrier against “zombies”. I think the ash ring is related to all the “undead” characters on the island.