The word anti. Means against, so antichrist means against Christ.
But who are they?
First John chapter_2 verses 18, Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Verse 22 of first john chapter two. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Anyone that accepted not Christ, is automatically against Christ.
Luke chapter 9 verses 50, And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
First John chapter_4 verses 3, And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Second John chapter_1 verses 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
All these are antichrists, but there is one coming, that is the antichrist.
Revelation chapter 17 verses 8, The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
The beast that was, and is not, and yet is. He is The Antichrist, the father of them all, of all those antichrists.
The Antichrist not only denied Christ, but he seated and profess himself as God.
He is the one that initiate the abomination that maketh desolate.