That’s a really good point about not wanting to imply relatively equivalent power levels.
Your other paragraphs give me an idea though - what about hinting that the Republic fears that the First Order is backed by resurgent Sith? That would make the Snoke (and later Sidious) reveals a bit more punchy, and justify why San Tekka and Maz’s castle are early targets. But better, it would also justify why the Republic doesn’t want to explicitly validate the galaxy’s fears that force users are back in play - a fear that’s likely to still be prevalent, especially given that even the Jedi are feared because of the Old Republic/early Empire’s propaganda around Order 66. It also gives us a little early feel for what ‘The Force Awakens’ means.
You might even make it explicit that Lor San Tekka is a member of a force cult.
How about-
The galaxy is in crisis.
Luke Skywalker, striving
to restore the legendary
Jedi Order, has vanished.
Emboldened by his absence,
the evil FIRST ORDER, an
extremist remnant of the
fallen Empire, have
proclaimed from a hidden
base that anyone who
seeks the Jedi’s return
shall be destroyed.
Fearing involvement from
the resurgent Sith, some
New Republic Senators have
secretly organized a covert
RESISTANCE, and have sent
their most daring pilot to
meet with a member of a
Jedi cult, seeking any
clue to Luke’s whereabouts
amongst the darkening stars…