Will Morgoth return?

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[Taurendil]

In a legend it is told that a time will come when Morgoth return. Unfortunately I do not know the legend itself but I’ve read about in Encyclopaedia of Arda under the entry Void. What do you think about it?       

[Mithrandir]

I've taken it to be fact, rather than legend. That one day, in the Dagor Dagorath, Morgoth will return and Arda will be destroyed.

[Taurendil]

Why?
And have you heard of the legend?

[Mithrandir]

It's not reallt mentioned that much in the Silmarillion, but comes up a lot in The History of Middle-earth.

Mandos prophecised that at some point Morgoth and all his servants would return to Arda to fight a tremendous battle, the Dagor Dagorath ("Battle or Battles"), against all the forces of good in which (in some versions of the text) Turin Turambar returns and kills Morgoth himself. This is often described as "Armageddon". The destruction of the Sun and the Moon is also mentioned.

[Taurendil]

So that's where it is. I haven't read the History of ME yet.
I wonder if Tolkien wanted to write about that. But it indeed sounds more like a legend. We may only guess here 

P.S. Could you name the volume where it is told?

[Mithrandir]

It was intended to be part of the mythology by Tolkien, I believe, but never made it into the Silmarillion because there is no decided version (e.g. whether Turin is involved or not), although, the version in The Shaping of Middle-earth is considered "final" (often argued by people).

So, I've always understood it as a "will happen" rather than "might happen".

It's mentioned in The Shaping of Middle-earth as well as both volumes of The Book of Lost Tales. I can't remember if/where it appear elsewhere.

Quote from Shaping of Middle-earth I've thoughtfully stolen from the Internet ("final" version):

"After the triumph of the Gods, Eärendel sailed still in the seas of heaven, but the Sun scorched him and the Moon hunted him in the sky . . . Then the Valar drew his white ship Wingelot over the land of Valinor, and they filled it with radiance and hallowed it, and launched it through the Door of Night. And long Eärendel set sail into the starless vast, Elwing at his side, the Silmaril upon his brow, voyaging the Dark behind the world, a glimmering and fugitive star. And ever and anon he returns and shines behind the courses of the Sun and Moon above the ramparts of the Gods, brighter than all other stars, the mariner of the sky, keeping watch against Morgoth upon the confines of the world. Thus shall he sail until he sees the Last Battle fought upon the plains of Valinor.

Thus spake the prophecy of Mandos, which he declared in Valmar at the judgment of the Gods, and the rumour of it was whispered among all the Elves of the West: when the world is old and the Powers grow weary, then Morgoth shall come back through the Door out of the Timeless Night; and he shall destroy the Sun and the Moon, but Eärendel shall come upon him as a white flame and drive him from the airs. Then shall the last battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor. In that day Tulkas shall strive with Melko, and on his right shall stand Fionwë and on his left Túrin Turambar, son of Húrin, Conqueror of Fate; and it shall be the black sword of Túrin that deals unto Melko his death and final end; and so shall the Children of Húrin and all men be avenged.

Thereafter shall the Silmarils be recovered out of sea and earth and air; for Earendil shall descend and yield up that flame that he hath had in keeping. Then Fëanor shall bear the Three and yield their fire to rekindle the Two Trees, and a great light shall come forth; and the Mountains of Valinor shall be levelled, so that the light goes out over all the world. In that light the Gods will again grow young, and the Elves awake and all their dead arise, and the purpose of Ilúvatar be fulfilled concerning them. But of Men in that day the prophecy speaks not, save of Túrin only, and him it names among the Gods."

It's a fantastic piece of text.

[Taurendil]

That's amazing!
A brilliant happy end! And I thought the Silm and TLotR cover most of the Tolkien world.
Thank you for the quotation, I'm really impressed!!

Alas that Tolkien does not give us the time of Melkor's return   

[Mithrandir]

Yeah, it's a really nice piece of writing, I think (along with most of The Book of Lost Tales - which I still think should be published in a single book without annotation much akin to The Silmarillion).

Well, The Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth contain a considerable amount of "extra" information regard the mythology, so much so that I think they should be read much more often than they currently are - they are actually rather important.

No, he didn't, probably ages away, though (and we're supposedly currently at the end of the sixth age/the beginning of the seventh).

[Taurendil]

(and we're supposedly currently at the end of the sixth age/the beginning of the seventh).

How can you know this?

[Mithrandir]

I remember reading it somewhere - said by Tolkien himself.

[Taurendil]

Hmm.... That's interesting too. I wonder how Tolkien incorporated our world with his then.    if he supposed to do it at all.

[Mithrandir]

Well he created the mythology to not only be a mythology and English legend, but also to be a history. Indeed, he wrote it very much as if it were a history. So the idea that we are in the Seventh Age (maybe it started at the end of World War 2) connects our world, and Middle-earth.

On Wikipedia it states under the heading "With Respect to Real Events, "Tolkien has often mentioned that after the War of the Ring the ages went on and now we are likely in the beginning of the Seventh Age, a bridge that connects this fantasy to reality.".

If you want to read more about the Last Battle, view this Wikipedia article.

[Taurendil]

So, the forth, fifth and seventh ages must be much longer than those preceding them. I mean how our history and history preceding the age of men could be connected with Tolkien's world.
Thanks for the link! Second music of the Ainur and Men is especially remarkable!