grainger said:

Overall, I'm worried about the overall set-up of the film. I really hope the Rebels aren't still fighting the Empire, having never beat them.

For sure the resistance and the first order are not the respective rebels and empire, especially since they mention the new republic in the description of the battle of jakku for the Battlefront game.

I would guess that the new republic has simply struggled to maintain control over all they desire, with empire themed groups rising up over the years. I'm a little confused as to how they are going to make it look like stuff happened over the last 30 years, and yet not feel sad because the ST didn't come in the late 80's when it should have.