Or we could just pay attention to the actual details in the text. -
Daniel shows "continuation" of the timeline "I kept looking".
Dan 7
9 ""I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.
10 ""A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.
Here we have a timeline sequence "I kept looking" - in which the judgment scene of heaven is setup after the 4th beast arises - comes to power, divides into 10 and has 3 of the 10 destroyed by "another power" - the 11th.. (So after the fall of the pagan Roman empire and the rise of ANOTHER empire)
We also have a courtroom with the “books opened” a judgment that is corporate, objective, external and based on the contents of the records - the facts recorded in the books. The books are opened and from that comes the judgment. Hence we have an “investigative” judgment of facts recorded in the books.
2Cor 5:10 confirms this judgment of deeds “whether they be good or evil”
2Cor 5
10 For [b]we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ[/b], so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.[/b]
Dan 7
11 ""Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.
12 ""As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
13 ""I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.
…
21 ""I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them
22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
14 ""And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.