Finally got through the update and I think I got at leas one element going on thanks to the 10/3 heart to heart with Russell and an earlier scene.
Theory Includes Spoilers
I think Ben's a receiver for what's going on. Like a radio tuned into the red eyed shizz-nasty. The thing that clinched it for me is the scene on the bridge where he thought about jumping waaaay back in like the first week or so. He noticed Russell on the roof of his apartment immediately afterwards. After the bomb that gets dropped at Zach's b-day I think Ben wasn't being urged necessarily, maybe part of it. I think he was tuned into Russell's mental state.
He's actually tuning into other people's thoughts and feelings during the other PoVs. If so the level of foreshadowing that went into it all the way back at the beginning is pretty damn baller!!!