Frozen wheel

If this is the distant past, how was Christian there at all?

Let's say for the sake of argument that the scene takes place just before the Black Rock crashes into the statue of Taweret back in 1867. The Man in Black would exist then on the island, but this 1867MiB wouldn't know who Locke is. He also wouldn't know about Christian Shephard or about his future 2004MiB self.

The only way I can think of to explain how 2004MiB is in the frozen wheel chamber prior to 1867 is that he was time traveling during the time shifts as well as the others. This would explain how he is able to still impersonate Christian (who hadn't even been born yet), plus how he knows what his 2004MiB self had planned and accomplished. He knows all this because he IS the 2004MiB.

If this is the case, the implications are staggering, as far as MiB being able to travel through time and acquire all kinds of info. Perhaps 2004MiB even met with a past version of himself, telling himself everything he knows about the future.

So im on Season 5 of the rewatch and this stuck out like a sore thumb. Se5 e11, What Happened, Happened. Miles is talking with Hurley about time travel. The only time it was described, was by Daniel as 'A skipping record'.

Ben turned the wheel and left the island, John didnt know how he did it, because he was none the wiser when he went down, MIB as Christian told him what to do. Then John left the island. The fact there was a wheel was not discovered until Daniel returns to the island to the Swan site (where they dig a tunnel that must join The Orchid).

So at no time has anyone with the information about how the island was moved returned there (albeit in 1977) to tell Miles how the Island was moved.

tbh Im a bit gutted that now I'm watching it without looking for answers to all the mysteries, Im finding a few plot holes.

Though if anyone can point out if I missed anything, then please do tell.