LAST EDITED ON 05-24-10 AT 12:17 PM (EST)Christian said "everybody dies sometimes". There was no past, present or future in the holding area. Some we saw die, others we did not. All were dead though including Walt, Aaron, Hurley, Ben.
Hurely was not immortal. He could die just like Jacob and Jack could. They could live a long time though. To me it was implied that Hurley/ben stayed on the island for a long time in the scene outside the church but they did die.
Edited because this was supposed to go under Hobbes post, not Michel's.
Also Richard probably did not choose to be in that "church" much like Ben and the others that were not there. He probably was meant to be with Isabella.